The Katherine Times hit the main street today to find out how shop owners would spend the bucket of money expected to revitalise Katherine Terrace. 

It was recently announced $5 million would be spent in the CBD to provide it with “a beautiful and inviting street presence for locals and visitors”. 

Some shop owners were on board with the government’s plans to “create a functional and engaging CBD”. 

While others said fixing Katherine’s serious issues should take priority. 

One of the main take home messages running through most comments was the need for maintenance of Katherine’s already established facilities. 

“The town needs to look more inviting, our footpaths are filthy, the parks are filthy and the store fronts need a fresh lick of paint,” a local shopper said. 

“You can spend all the money in the world, but there is no point if it is not cleaned.

“The town has to look nice for people passing through.”

Sue Moran, a Katherine business volunteer said a revitalisation would be hugely beneficial, but it needed to extend further than the CBD boundaries. 

“More CCTV is absolutely essential to avoid break-ins, and I would rather see the things we already have maintained rather than see new things,” she said. 

Ms Moran also suggested bringing back the radio on the main street. 

“It was something unique for Katherine, and it was just great listening to music while walking to where ever,” she said. 

Urban Rampage retail assistant Angelique Jackson, a new arrival from Tennant Creek said lights on the street could highlight offenders who attempt to break in.

“Two months ago we were broken into and we asked the police for footage, but they said they couldn’t see anything because it was too dark,” she said. 

Shane Hutton, who works in his family business at Arcade Internet Cafe warned the government needed to spend the money wisely. 

“Upgrade the toilets,” he said, “right now they are filthy and unhygienic.” 

“Add more CCTV to reduce break-ins.” 

The NT government proposed a new transport bypass route costing an estimated $150 million, last year. 

The project would prevent heavy and potentially dangerous trucks from travelling through the town centre. 

Building designer Jason Hillier said the five million should go towards increasing pedestrian room and reducing traffic lanes. 

“I would like to see the whole main street developed into a mall where people can walk freely. 

“Just like Darwin only has two lane streets … bypassing the Stuart Highway to the rear between the Golf Club – and only having light traffic through the main street – would mean the [main] strip could be used for more commercial spaces like cafes,” Mr Hillier said. 

The government’s plans for the CBD re-vamp include road and infrastructure improvements, parking, lighting, pedestrian connectivity and access, WIFI/CCTV and public toilets among other things. 

But the Finch Cafe owners, Gill Russell and Phoebe Quilty, said the government’s ideas “don’t beautify” the town. 

“People need to be able to walk up and down a nice street, have somewhere to sit under shade and trees.

“We need artwork to attract people – not so much murals – but something to bring character to the town.”

The pair said they were only on board with the government’s plan to improve toilets. 

They also said water fountains would benefit everyone in town. 

With a lot of Katherine locals agreeing that any money spent in town was good, Coffee Club manager Sarah Singh said the large sum could be spent better elsewhere. 

“Why are we not putting the money towards more housing?,” she said, “or public transport.” 

“It would be great to have buses running, taxis are just far too expensive,” she said. 

Katherine locals, Karen Bursle and Lee Kirby agreed saying beautifying will not fix the issues in town. 

“There is no use doing anything in the centre, it won’t make a difference to the town’s issues. 

“That is a cosmetic fix,” Ms Bursle said. 

“We need an accommodation centre for out of town communities … people without families just long grass it.

“Accommodation would lessen clashing between communities and minimise violence,” she said. 

Ms Bursle said WIFI is an important service for the Indigenous community, one that needs to allow for more access. 

“People come into town and download their apps, as a lot of them might not have [WIFI] at home, the nomads would use it too,” she said. 

“It shouldn’t necessarily be unlimited but maybe free access within a time frame of 9am to 5pm.”

Ms Kirby said the town is in desperate need of a youth drop-in centre, and improvements to the Information Centre to make it an inviting tourist hub. 

With Bodhi Bus looking to expand their route services, manager Andrew Blaney said the five million should be spent on a bus interchange.

He would also like to see a bowling alley. 

“We bring in people from the community to go shopping … while waiting for the bus they need somewhere nice to sit and wait and it needs to be central. 

“The people we bring in benefit the community in Katherine from the kick back,” he said. 

He said Katherine needs a homeless shelter rather than street furniture. 

“I see people on the street all the time, there needs to be somewhere to go and be safe. It is a fundamental human right to have shelter,” he said. 

Jason Scadden, “the friendly butcher”, said Katherine would gain most from spending the money on making Katherine beautiful. 

“I think this investment is absolutely fantastic, the town needs to be beautiful to make tourists stay.”

Mr Scadden, who recently spent thousands on a face-lift for his shopfront said a $5000 grant for businesses to spend money, to receive money, would entice other shop owners to do the same.

“CCTV is a waste of time and money, what do you do when you catch someone around here? You let ‘em go,” he said. 

Mr Scadden said although implementing additional toilets would be great, they need to be maintained. 

Shoppers Stop owner Sabi Kaurr said the government needed to install public phone booths for those in an emergency and public toilets. 

“I get way too many people asking to use my bathroom and they say the one [at Ryan Park] is locked.”

Other ideas from Katherine’s locals included money spent on the arts, a zoo, a community garden, improving public spaces and cycle routes, encouraging more food outlets to open, and more shaded seating along the middle of the highway. 

Read more about the government’s plans to revitalise Katherine