Katherine building company, Katherine Constructions, has won the $3 million tender to upgrade the town's town square.
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Mayor Fay Miller said after a competitive tendering process council had appointed Katherine Constructions to undertake the $3M project.
"This is a positive boost for our community and the appointment of a local contractor will ensure the financial flow-on of this project will have the greatest benefit to our local community," Mayor Miller said.
Most recently Katherine Constructions won the tender for upgrades at Nitmiluk National Park.
Construction on the NT Government sponsored project is scheduled to start in a few weeks with work anticipated to be completed by Christmas.
The awarding of the tender comes two years after the money was first announced by the NT Government.
Katherine Times has been told by several sources there has been on pressure on the council to get on with some long delayed projects before the August election, although this has been denied.
The original $5 million for the upgrade fell to $3.5 million after $1.5 million was diverted to pay for the budget blowout on the Katherine Hot Springs project.
As well, council rejected earlier architect plans for the CBD revitalisation and instead opted to spend the bulk of the remaining money on what is popularly know as 50 cent park at the corner of Katherine Terrace and Giles Street.
The architects were paid $400,000 to come up with those earlier plans but were kept on to design the more limuited park upgrade.
The stated an aim of the project is to "activate the CBD".
There will be more shade, water misters, a "portable" cafe, and a huge audio visual display.
A toilet block will be built in Railway Terrace as well.
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