The NT Government has offered encouraging words but no solutions to allow for the re-opening of the important tourist attraction.

Government intervention caused the NT’s oldest surviving homestead, and likely the NT’s biggest trees, to close to the public four years ago.

But the government said it was the private ownership of Springvale which is complicating its reopening.

Owner Werney Sarny said he had been greatly encouraged by the outpouring of support for Springvale after the Katherine Times detailed his ongoing dilemma last month.

“I genuinely appreciate and am encouraged by all the positive community support and feedback regarding reopening Springvale Homestead to the public,” he said.

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“I am an 80-year-old man who has a deep connection with Springvale Homestead and appreciate that many others share this connection with this special place also.  That is why I originally opened it up to the public also.

“My wife and I have spent the best part of our life promoting tourism in and around Katherine – because we love this town and know that others do too.”

Springvale was forced to close four years ago after new flood zone laws meant waste water disposal of the past needed to be updated.

The Katherine Times took Mr Sarny’s plight to the government.

Tourism Minister Lauren Moss said Springvale Homestead Tourist Park is a historic site with beautiful grounds and would be a highly valuable tourism offering in the Katherine region if reopened.

“It is clear that the waste water treatment issues have been ongoing for some time at the Park.

“As waste water treatment and disposal is a public and environmental health matter, it is appropriate that the Department of Health remains the key contact regarding resolving the waste water issues.

“I understand that the Heritage Council, along with officers from the Department of Tourism and Culture’s Heritage Branch visited the site last year and have been assisting Travel North in assessing the condition of the old Rain Trees near the old Homestead.

“The reestablishment of tourism operations would represent a valuable addition to the accommodation and experiential tourism offerings in the region.

“The Department of Tourism and Culture is available to work with Travel North and assist through the reopening process, including through continued liaison with the Department of Health.”

The Katherine Times then asked the Department of Health if it could help.

“The Department of Health approved a new wastewater treatment system to service Springvale Homestead in 2017, however it is understood that Travel North now wants to install septic tank systems which provide a lower level of wastewater treatment,” a departmental spokeswoman said.

“Septic tank systems in general are only approved to be installed outside of 1 in 100 year flood zones to treat smaller amounts of waste water up to 2000 litres per day, Springvale Homestead will generate up to 38,000 litres of wastewater per day.

“DoH advises that septic tank systems are not feasible for Springvale Homestead because of serious concerns about the commercial quantity of wastewater generated, the property’s location within the flood zone and the property’s proximity to sensitive environmental areas including heritage listed trees.”

Mr Sarny said the changes in legislation and inter-governmental departments had been very confusing, “and to be honest it has been very difficult to keep up with them”.

“I have often wondered whether if I were a not-for-profit organisation who understands all the ins-and-outs of grant funding and all the various government departments etc.  would it would have been easier to reopen Springvale Homestead back to the public sooner?

“I want to do the right thing, but of course it has to be logical, feasible and sustainable too.

“I have not given up however, and will continue to seek support and cooperation from all community stakeholders including the Department of Health, Department of Tourism and the Katherine community,” Mr Sarny said.