Earlier this year a grand plan for Katherine's $5 million CBD Revitalisation project was revealed to just three people.

It hasn't been seen since.

The whole town was invited to see what was in store on May 9, but the invitation only came a few hours before the actual meeting, and as council meetings usually go, there were plenty of free seats.

The three of us fit comfortably around the triangle-shaped table - usually reserved for the alderman at the council's monthly meetings - with the architects who had spent countless hours surveying the town, preparing maps and costing features for this very moment.

To really bring it home, the Darwin based Ashford Architect Group - contracted by the council to come up with a plan at a cost of almost $400,000 - had prepared a video which transformed Katherine into an unrecognisable green oasis.

Even to my untrained eye, I could see their grand vision far exceeded the $5 million which has been made available by the NT Government - which is all we have and most likely will ever have with the state of the Territory's spiraling economy.

It took almost three months for the council to release this video, despite repeated requests from the Katherine Times.

But the video we see today is not what the select few were shown at the special meeting - a few key things have been taken out.

The original was simply unaffordable and unattainable - it also relied heavily on a bypass, estimated to cost $150 million, which has been in the works for years as part of the Katherine Town Council Land Use plan.

Starting from a birds eye view, the short video swept through Katherine's main drag, showing what could be.

Big shady trees lined the streets and alfresco dining took up space on the pavement.

The dual lanes on each side of a reduced median strip were free of large trucks and cars flowed slowly.

There was a raised concrete walkway across the Victoria Highway.

Along Railway Terrace, big ponds filled with water were surrounded by green grass, trees and footpaths, and there was a glass elevator to an overpass which would take walkers across the road to Ryan Park where there was a cafe overlooking over the river.

The plan included a winding bike path through the town, complete with a tour of native bush foods - a homage to our rich culture.

There were street misters to keep it cool, look out decks to view the river, self sufficient public toilets equipped with solar panels and adventure playgrounds for both adults and children.

My first question to the architects was obvious, how much will this cost?

They had the figure, but the public was not allowed to know. The council had asked them to keep it to themselves.

The architects said the council had briefed them to "create something special".

It was a long term vision for which the council would find funds for later.

"We want to put Katherine on the map," architect Katharina Nieberler-Walker said at the meeting.

"We are hoping to inspire the community to what could be possible.

"We think it is important that what ever we create here relates to the place, we don't want to create another Darwin."

But the community was never inspired by that video.

It was taken from public view, edited, and the sanitised version was released at the Katherine Show.

It was retracted by the council, so they could chop and change it, take things out and make it less grandiose.

If released to the public once, then everyone has a right to see it.

The original is etched into the minds of just three people.

Katherine residents have until September 1 to make comments on the video, which is still in the concept phase.

Feedback on the video can be made to Katherine Town Council by calling 8972 5500 or emailing contactus@ktc.nt.gov.au.

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