While the competition is judged every year in August, council is setting itself a realistic goal of winning in 2020. 

Katherine Town Council  last night agreed to sign up for the NT competition, which would cost $660, to be taken from the next budget. 

The idea originally came from KTC's outdoor staff, who are out and about in town every day, picking up litter and maintaining gardens and parks. 

Council was told it would need to take a lead role in turning the town's look around. 

"If we were to join this campaign it would require a concerted effort by all the bodies responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the town to embrace the idea and work together to improve the current maintenance standards," the council agenda says. 

"These bodies would include DIPL, private property owners and particularly the owners of high- profile business in both the commercial and industrial areas. The Council would need to have a lead role and set an example as to what we can achieve." 

Residents and shopkeepers have spoken out about the dire look of the town in the past. 

And with tourist season coming up, a clean up couldn't come faster. 

While council agreed it was a good idea to enter the competition next year, tidying up is expected to begin sooner rather than later. 

At the council meeting, Alderman Elisabeth Clarke said she would be addressing the look of the Cenotaph first, with Anzac day fast approaching. 

The NT Keep Australia Beautiful organisation's mission is to "promote, support and recognise the efforts of Territorians and their communities through projects that improve living conditions and sustainability by encouraging key community stakeholders to work collaboratively.

"NT Keep Australia Beautiful puts particular emphasis on litter reduction and waste management in remote communities."

Last year, the remote Indigenous community of Santa Teresa was named the 2018 Territory Tidy Town.

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