As the first stage of the hot springs nears completion, questions over whether there will be enough money left over for the proposed playground have been raised.
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Katherine Town Council has released few details on the playground since the hot springs rejuvenation first came about about three years ago.
But earlier this week, Katherine's Mayor Fay Miller dismissed any fears it would not go ahead.
"It will be lovely," she said on Tuesday night at the council's monthly open forum.
"The turtle is in the process of being designed and is expected to be installed in April."
The only further information the council is divulging is that it will be a "turtle themed all access playground".
"We are currently in the final stage of design and will provide drawings when finalised," a council spokeswoman said when pressed for more details today.
The mayor has also confirmed all trees at the hot springs would be kept as many others across Katherine are having to be cut down due to drought conditions, termite infestations, and mismanagement.
The multi-million dollar hot springs project was first completed in October 2017.
But after just one wet season erosion issues began to emerge.
The Katherine Town Council is confident the project will be complete by year end.
The popular tourist spot has been a sore point in the town since it was found the original work had begun to erode and would have to be ripped up and re-done.
The $2 million upgrade, when first announced in April 2016, was initially to be completed by the end of that year, but has been blocked by high fencing since.
While the long-standing construction zone hasn't appeared to quell tourism numbers, it has had many residents up in arms.
More recently, a contentious council decision was made to reallocate $1.5 million from the $5 million CBD Revitalisation project to the springs' fix.
Almost $400,000 of the CBD money had already been spent on contracting architects to deliver a plan for the revamp, and with the siphoning off of money to the hot springs, that upgrade money now totals just $3 million.
Contractors have been toiling away this year to ensure the work is completed before the wet season sets in.
At the beginning of this month, a council spokeswoman said construction of the lower section of the springs was brought forward, to get work completed as fast as possible before the looming wet season sets in.
Despite the Bureau of Meteorology's prediction of a late start to the wet season, which usually sees the Katherine River rise by metres and become a rushing body of water, resident's relished in the first drops of rain today.
"We are confident the works will be completed in December 2019," the council spokeswoman said.
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