NO buyer has been found for the former Katherine Sports and Recreation Club or the two hectare Giles Street prime piece of real estate.
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The NT Government has ended its Expressions of Interest from “commercial developers, community organisations and any other entities” interested in redeveloping the site.
No submissions were received for the redevelopment of the former club, opposite the Katherine River.
City leaders had hoped a developer would buy the site and build a major hotel as a tourist drawcard.
One developer is known to have discussed the opportunity of building a raised boardwalk opposite the site to lure tourists.
But obviously that early interest has now dried up.
The government held a community briefing on May 11 at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre to outline the process which also attracted little interest.
The NT Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Department is now saying it will “continue conversations with the interested parties from the registration period to investigate options for the site.
An industry briefing was also held on May 16 at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre at 6pm.
A few supporters of the former club wanted the NT government to still consider saving the clubhouse and sporting grounds.
The club closed down more than a year ago year after becoming insolvent.
In the launch of its sale process, the government said: “The site presents an opportunity for development for a range of uses that recognise the history of the site and acknowledges its surroundings; and complements other projects within Katherine that aim to reconnect the township to the river corridor.”
The government documents said the “site is not utilised and the facilities are in considerable disrepair”.
Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson secured $250,000 from the NT government to develop the club as “an all-purpose community centre in Katherine”.
“It would have cost more to fix it than we had and then we found out about the zoning problems,” she said.
That money is being spent extending the Don Dale pavilion, to become the town’s new community centre.
Ms Nelson said she believed Katherine was already well supplied with other sporting grounds.
The government will establish a panel “to evaluate EOIs received with a view to shortlisting proponents to participate in a secondary detailed proposal stage”.
Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Nicole Manison said inspections had been undertaken to assess the best use of the site ongoing, and a decision to redevelop the site was considered the most beneficial for the community.
“This EOI process represents an exciting opportunity for redevelopment of the site, to create jobs and stimulate the Katherine economy, with a development that provides both short and long term economic benefit,” Ms Manison said.
“Any development would need to provide a benefit to the broader community and address flood issues with the site.