The Katherine Hot Springs has officially been closed for the wet season due to rising water levels.
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As the wet season slowly settles in, rivers are expected to rise making popular swimming spots unsafe.
The Katherine Times visited the springs today, and at the time there were no signs indicating the popular attraction was closed.
Tourists at the springs today also said they were unaware the area was closed.
The people told the Katherine Times they had not seen closure signs and were not aware there might be danger in swimming in the water – due to potential crocodiles.
More reading: Council responds to Katherine hot springs dismay
“On January 4, [Katherine Town] Council issued a media release, closing the Hot Springs and Knotts Crossing, due to rising water levels. This was done after a physical check of the river and the Hot Springs, and was conducted by council officers,” a Katherine Town Council spokeswoman said.
“There are several things council can check when deciding to close these areas – the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) weather forecasts, observations of weather conditions in the Katherine River catchment, checks on the BOM River Level data and physical checks of the locations are all possible avenues of inquiry.
“Council routinely close the Hot Springs and Knotts Crossing at the first instance of rising water. These locations will now remain closed for the duration of the wet season,” she said.
The Katherine Town Council has advised the Katherine Times temporary ‘closed’ signs will be erected at the Hot Springs today.
Development of the Hot Springs has been a hotly contested issue for the past year as construction has been at a standstill.
Stage one of the project was supposed to be finished in October 2017, and there are concerns the site, locked behind fences could be further damaged this wet season.
Council plans to continue work on finishing stage one and starting stage two, after the wet season this year.
The hot springs traditionally re-open in March or April.
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