It has now been more than 16 months since the landmark announcement of $11.4 million in NT Government funding to rejuvenate the CBD, sportsgrounds and showgrounds.

Annette Schefe, the Katherine Junior Rugby League treasurer, stood shoulder to shoulder with Member for Katherine Sandra Nelson and Mayor Fay Miller for a picture call on the day of the announcement.

Ms Schefe said she was disappointed little had happened since.

With some of the money already siphoned off to other Katherine Town Council projects, she said it should be spent quickly before it dissolves into nothing.

She fears works planned for the sportsgrounds may now interfere with the next dry season sports because of the spending halt imposed by Katherine Town Council.

"There are no players, there is no rain, things are not improving and people are going to Darwin," she said.

"We need to get kids off couches and and into sporting activities, we need more families and volunteers who actually want to go to the sportsground and that means fixing the oval and giving the Don Dale Pavilion a face lift."

She said sporting clubs across the board are struggling to maintain players, but it wouldn't take much to bring the grounds up to par with other facilities in Australia.

"We don't need a flash place, (the Don Dale Pavilion) is serviceable, it just needs a fresh coat of paint, gardens and fencing for security."

"Being a remote town should not be an excuse for slow work or not getting in contractors to get the job done," she said.

"If we get funding, it should be used on what it was said."

The NT Government funding was designed "revitalise the Katherine CBD and provide it with a beautiful and inviting street presence for locals and visitors," said at the time by Minister for the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Eva Lawler, who did not actually attend the announcement.

The funding was part of an "overall plan to create an enriching community that is engaging and functional for local residents, those visiting from the Big Rivers region, those considering relocating to a regional area and tourists alike."

While the council cannot provide any concrete figures - saying it is in the middle of an organisation-wide audit - a big chunk of CBD grant money has been spent, with little to show for it.

Almost $700,000 has been forked out on contracting architects from Darwin, tasked with designing plans.

And $1.5 million of the CBD fund has been siphoned off to fix the contentious hot springs, after it was revealed the original work would unlikely make it through a wet season.

It appears the CBD project has come to a complete standstill, much to the dismay of the town.

And the sportsground upgrades have been placed on indefinite hold with the plans conjectured to cost more than $3 million over budget.

While the council's resources are tied up in their organisation-wide audit, a spokeswoman could not provide any more information about costs so far or when work will likely start.

She did however say the council is pursuing the Commonwealth for opportunities to replace "some, if not all" of $1.5 million lost to the hot springs.

"At present, the final figure to be expended on the CBD project is yet to be determined," she said.

"We are diligently working with the design consultants toward the finalisation of the design for Stage 1 (Railway Terrace area) and until that process is complete, we are unable to say how much the project is likely to cost.

"Council transferred $1.5 million of the original $5 million CBD budget to the hot springs project in order to see it through to completion.

"However, since the transfer of money, council have been pursuing other NTG and Commonwealth Government funding opportunities to replace some, if not all, of the $1.5 million transferred.

"The amount council has already expended on the project is for design works only. A figure cannot be provided as we are in the process of an organisation wide audit and our finance resources are fully focused on that activity."

A figure may be provided later in the month, she said.

Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson, who earlier this year confirmed she would not be contesting her seat at next year's election, said she lobbied hard for the much needed revamp funding, and even included her signature campaign promise of a town meeting space, costed at $250,000, which was incorporated into the sportsground funds.

At the current rate of progress, the campaign promise might not be built by the time the next election comes around next year.

Despite the ongoing delay, she said the NT Government's investment is 'fantastic' for the town.

"As local member, I am proud of the level of investment the government has made into the Katherine region during this term of government and my role in this," she said.

"Katherine Town Council and Government have been working together and consulting with the community to ensure these projects are delivered for the benefit of the community."

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