Writing in the Katherine Times tomorrow, Alderman Tapp Coutts says there seems to be a section of the Katherine community that constantly put the town down, saying that it is declining and not growing.

“I believe the opposite is the truth and this is evident by the number of new businesses that have been established in the past two years,” she writes.

“New restaurants and cafes, the Pop Rocket, Black Russian, Wiggo’s, Equalitea and Maidens Lane. The new barber shop and beauty shop in the shopping centre. Foxy’s Workers Camp, Tyrepower, TotalWorld and the new Puma Roadhouse, two fuel outlets at Hobbits and Emungalan Road and a 24 Hour Fitness Centre. All employing locals. 

“Whitehouse Furnishers have invested millions in a new show room and new shop fronts for other businesses to develop. United Fuel have spent millions on a refurb and bringing Pie Face to town and the recent upgrades at Red Rooster have added a modern and fresh look to the CBD.

“Add to that over $20 million the NT Government investment in the new Ambulance and Fire station and the $2 billion being spent on Tindal RAAF Base and Delamere over five years. A new solar farm, the biggest in the NT is about to happen along with the $11.5 million being awarded to the Katherine Town Council to be spent on the Showgrounds, Sportsground and CBD upgrades over the next two years. Over a million on the Hot Springs upgrades and $10 million at Nitmiluk National Park. The list goes on with many other small business projects and grants in the town and massive investments in the Katherine Region resulting in local jobs and growth. 

“How many communities in the NT can boast this amount of local confidence and investment in the past two years?

“These new businesses have proven their confidence in the growth and future development of Katherine and we should all take a leaf from their books, and not only support them but talk this town up as a great place to live and do business.”