Council to help fund community centre plan

The NT Government has already promised $250,000 to the project.

Katherine’s new community centre has been identified as an extension of the Katherine sports pavilion.

A new concrete block extension will be attached to the toilets at the eastern end of the existing building.

The $250,000 promised by the incoming NT Government for the Katherine Sports and Recreation Club will instead be spent on the Don Dale pavilion at the sportsground.

The grant was promised by incoming Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson during the 2016 election campaign.

Labor had identified a need in Katherine for an “all-purpose community centre” given the town has no town hall in a traditional sense.

A government investigation of the former sports and recreation building found the $250,000 would not sufficient to restore the building for the purpose promised during the election campaign.

The NT Government has placed the Giles Street building and two hectares of land on the market.

Council’s financial support for the project emerged in details of its 2018-19 budget to be presented at a special meeting tonight.

“Council proposes to contribute an additional $100,000 (financial and in-kind) to the $250,000 already provided by the Member for Katherine towards this project,” a council spokeswoman said.

“We believe these funds will contribute greatly to achieving not only the vision of the Community Centre, but enhance the overall functionality of the facility for its current users (2500+ per week).”