Work began on the multi-stage redevelopment of the 2 Crawford Street earlier this month after a trades joint venture led by Katherine Constructions won the $1.14m contract to transform the old Landmark site into the council’s new operational hub.

More than six local businesses will directly benefit from the works, which will consolidate the council’s Katherine property footprint and play a pivotal role in the long-term strategic management of its 186,000 square kilometre local government area.

Future stages of the project include the construction of a purpose-built council chambers and training centre.

Chief executive officer Michael Berto inspected the site with Director of Corporate Governance Greg Arnott yesterday and said he was pleased to see so many Katherine businesses involved with a project that would solidify the organisation’s position as one of the largest employers in the region.

“Council is responsible for delivering a multitude of services and programs across a diverse local government area, so it was important that we had a base to adequately support the current and projected operational needs associated with that objective,” he explained.

“As an organisation which employs more than 70 staff in Katherine, council believes we have a social responsibility to contribute to the growth of the town and region by supporting local business wherever possible.

“To facilitate that, council is in the process of adopting a Buy Local Policy that incorporates specified assessment weightings in favour of businesses based in the Roper Gulf and greater Katherine regions.”

The second tender, valued at $280,000, has been awarded to eMerge IT Solutions to upgrade computer hardware in the council’s offices in Katherine and its nine remote service delivery centres.

Mr Berto said the emphasis on procuring local solutions to goods and service requirements aligned with NT Government practices which realised best value in the council’s operational footprint and for the Territory as a whole.

“Council is part of the Katherine community, and the awarding of these two tenders to businesses that support the livelihoods of local workers represents a much-needed injection of almost $1.5m towards the sustainability of the town’s economy,” he said.

Stages one and two of the 2 Crawford Street redevelopment are scheduled to be completed by February next year.