The Department of Defence has responded to claims it should contribute to the town’s flood mitigation.
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At the last town council meeting, Katherine resident Kerrie Mott asked, “if in all your meetings with flood mitigation issues has anyone thought to ask the Department of Defence to contribute to the flood mitigation in this town as a result of the development out at Tindal?”
She said the run off of water from the Tindal RAAF Base contributes significantly to filling Tindal Creek, which experts now say play a big part in the town’s flooding.
A spokesperson from the Department of Defence has since responded and said it had not been approached and asked to contribute funds.
“Defence works closely with state and local governments on matters regarding communities with a Defence presence,” the spokesperson said.
“Defence is not currently involved in any discussions with external parties regarding planning for flood mitigation planning in the RAAF Tindal and Katherine area.”
At the council meeting Ms Mott said the expanse of concrete and bitumen at Tindal RAAF Base increased flooding and overflow in Tindal Creek, which is now known to significantly impact the town in the event of a flood.
At the time of the meeting Katherine Town Council CEO Rob Jennings said “there is a natural argument that if you have open ground that you would increase the run off”.
“But it also depends on how it is treated on site,” he said.
“So if you catch it on site – and [Tindal RAAF Base does] have a lot of retention measures – then you could hold the water and therefore reduce the impact.
“It has to be explored further.”
Stage six of the work, called KC-30A, is set to begin soon at the completion of the current project.
The massive upgrades are making way for the F-35A Joint Strike Fighters and the KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport.
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