Plans are being considered to kickstart the stalled Katherine Hot Springs project.
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While the extent of the work needed is not yet clear, a tender for work to “re-engineer” the first stage of the works closed on Friday.
Katherine Town Council and the project’s new engineers and designers, Mode Design Corp and Irwin Consult, are examining the costings and the scale of the works needed.
The last wet season caused erosion problems to the lower gabion rock wall tier.
Mayor Fay Miller this week said ratepayers would not be asked to contribute to the remediation works but said an approach is being considered to the NT Government for further funding to add to the $2 million already allocated to the now three stage project.
Chief executive officer Rob Jennings said an extra funding would “allow us to achieve even more on the project”.
“There are a number of factors that will influence the budget, especially what Stage 1B works are to be progressed, the extent of work that council could take on internally and the design of the Stage 2 works which will be determined over the coming months.”
Stage 1B is the new designation for the remediation works.
Design drawings for the proposed remediation works, seen by Katherine Times, detail demolition of some of the existing paths for more concreting.
Proposed works also include more drainage, extra rock gabion baskets and concrete ‘anchors’ to be inserted into the river bank.
The proposed new plans also include a tree and shrub planting plan to help stabilise the slope.
Mayor Miller said it was hoped some of the work could begin this year, before another wet season’s high river flows through the area.
The design of the upper park level of the project (Stage 2) is proceeding and is programmed to be commenced in 2019, the council said.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has confirmed its Rangelands Division attended a site meeting on June 20 “to be updated on what works were proposed and to discuss construction phase erosion and sediment controls”.
A written site inspection report was provided to council later that month.
Mr Jennings said some of the problems identified from the first stage of the works were believed to be the fault of the project management and council was considering what steps it could take in relation to that.
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