The expensive infrastructure works which will allow development of the long debated Katherine East neighbourhood centre have been let for tender.

There have been plans since the devastating 1998 flood to move the heart of Katherine away from the river to a site adjacent to the Stuart Highway and opposite the research station.

More than $22 million has been made available for the key project designed to be a new town centre free from the threat of flooding.

The Federal Government has provided $11 million to match the $11 million left in the kitty from the sale of TIO for Katherine flood projects.

The neighbourhood centre and a series of levee banks, still to be built, are the big ticket spending items.

This initial project includes important associated infrastructure for Katherine East such as drainage, sewer pump station, water supply mains, a new power substation and poles.

Two new main arterial roads are also to be built in the future.

The first, High Street, will connect the new town centre to existing housing at Casuarina Street; and the second will connect Katherine East to the Stuart Highway.

Under consideration for the Katherine East precinct are a retail centre (supermarket), tourist accommodation, medical centre, aged care, childcare centres, and a special needs school.

According to tender documents, this initial work comprises the construction of a new sewage pump station in Crawford Street, rising main, embankment and interconnecting sewers as well as the removal of the existing pump station.

The sewerage infrastructure required to service the site will connect to existing infrastructure at the Bicentennial Road sewage pump station, as well as upgrades to existing infrastructure in the areas south of the Crawford Street industrial precinct.

It also includes extension of a water main along Stuart Highway to provide service to the new neighbourhood centre.

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