A new Katherine town centre has been shortlisted for funding.
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With an agreed project cost of $22 million, the Katherine East flood project has reached the second stage of funding by the Federal and NT governments.
The Katherine project is one of 16 projects which has reached the second stage of funding under the Federal Government’s $272.2 million Regional Growth Fund.
There have been plans since the devastating 1998 flood to move Katherine away from the river to a site adjacent to the Stuart Highway and opposite the research station.
The Federal Government has identified a $11 million investment in this project to match the Northern Territory Government investment, who are the applicants.
The project will construct:
- new drainage detention basin and linear trunk drainage corridor along the western side of Katherine East Arterial Road, integrated with an existing drainage network to the north and culvert upgrade for Stuart Highway;
- new trunk gravity sewer mains, rising mains, sewer pump station and micro-tunnelling under Stuart Highway;
- water supply works for new distribution mains and link connections and thrustbore under the Stuart Highway;
- new power substation 500kVA and HV/LV poles;\
- new arterial road (High Street) to connect the new town centre to existing housing at Casuarina Street; and
- new arterial road (Katherine East) to connect to the Stuart Highway, including a new intersection and pedestrian facilitation works.
It is estimated 26 direct jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project, and will support another 217 direct ongoing jobs.
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Katherine was allocated $25 million by the former NT government in November 2014 following the sale of a TIO, 16 years after the devastating 1998 flood.
The Katherine Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee (KFMAC) was established in January 2015, tasked with providing recommendations on how the funding should be best spent to mitigate the impact of future flooding.
Since then, the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics has played the lead role in planning and implementing the proposed recommendations.
Currently, about half the bucket of money has been spent on mapping, flood modelling, floor level surveys and preparation for levee banks – which could minimise the impact of smaller floods.
Plans also include sacrificing the hospital as there is little hope holding back a 1 in 200 year event like the 1998 flood.
The NT Government has been invited to submit Full Business Cases for assessment.
Senator Nigel Scullion said: “This is exciting news for Katherine and the Northern Territory, as the first stage of the assessment process has been highly competitive, with more than 300 applications received from state and territory governments, local governments, businesses and not-for-profit organisations.
“This is a pat on the back for the Territory. The project will help drive economic growth and create jobs both immediately and in the longer term. Importantly it will increase community safety and security from flooding, which will also result in increased investment through more retail business and employment.”
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