The shops and a second supermarket would be part of a new neighbourhood centre to be developed in Katherine East.

Planers have reported back to the NT Government after a second round of asking residents what they actually wanted.

They wanted to know when the work would start, the planners were told.

"There was widespread support for a new neighbourhood centre to be developed in Katherine East.

"The community believe there is a need for a new shopping centre to service the Katherine region, including retail space that is not flood affected."

The feedback from residents came as part of the second stage of the consultation on plans to develop Katherine East.

The project already has $22 million in the bank to do the work - $11 million from money promised from the sales of TIO some years ago, and a recent Federal Government promise to help Katherine move to higher ground.

The government released the outcome of the consultations today.

"The question from everyone is 'when will it happen?'," the report states.

Aside from the longheld desire for a new supermarket, residents also raised the idea of building a bowling alley in the area.

Other ideas local residents raised with government included:

The report also says there were some other views from residents.

Some questioned the need for any more service stations in town, fears whether there was a large enough population in the area to support a second supermarket.

Others pointed out there there was already a community hall in Katherine East they said was not utilised to its full capacity.

Most of the people surveyed also said the existing Katherine Hospital needs to move away from the river bank to Katherine East.

"People agreed that if the hospital is going to be in the second neighbourhood centre it should also combine with a medical precinct in the same location."

On the push for more residential development in the area, some residents "expressed an alternative view".

"Some believe that Katherine does not have the population to support growth in Katherine East. They stated that the current house lots are selling slowly and hence construction of new dwellings are in decline.

"Katherine overall needs a boost in population generated by industry (agricultural, mining, or the oil and gas) to get people to move to Katherine."

The report also said residents wanted to speak about issues outside the scope of the Planning Commission's brief.

These include but not limited to the following concerns within Katherine East and the surrounding areas:

The draft area plan was presented to the community during Stage Two, where feedback was sought on a land use concept for Katherine East, which balanced land capability with future development structured around two neighbourhoods.

NT Planning Commission Chairman, Dr David Ritchie, thanked the Katherine community for their interest and involvement in the Katherine East Area Plan project.

"Stakeholder contributions have been invaluable to the Planning Commission in refining the Draft Area Plan," said Dr Ritchie.

"The NT Planning Commission is releasing the Stage Two Consultation Report, which summarises the consultation process, and the key themes identified by the community, government agencies, and other relevant stakeholder groups."

The next step is for the Planning Commission to recommend the Draft Katherine East Area Plan to the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics as a proposed Planning Scheme Amendment.

"Should the Minister choose to consider the Draft Katherine East Area Plan as an amendment of the Planning Scheme, a minimum 28-day public exhibition period will occur, with further submissions invited from stakeholders." said Dr Ritchie.

The Katherine East Area Plan Stage Two consultation report is now available on the NT Planning Commission website at planningcommission.nt.gov.au.

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