October 2020
Like everyone else I am hoping that the lovely rain we received over this last weekend is just the beginning of a really good wet season – here’s hoping! Our parks, gardens and trees are surely being deprived of a much-needed soaking.

Planning is well underway for events leading up to Christmas, and in some cases events for 2021.  These will be advertised on our website and FB page.

The CBD project is coming along well.  As you can appreciate most of the work to date is under the ground so there is still little to see.

However, it won’t be too long before you will notice the changes.  I am very much looking forward to the CBD redevelopment completion which I hope will be before Christmas. It has been a pleasure to attend recent interesting events at GYRACC which have attracted large audiences. The GYRACC board has certainly lifted the profile of the Arts & Cultural Centre by attracting high profile entertainers and a variety of artists in the arts and craft field. The displays are fabulous. 

If you haven’t visited recently (and I am still surprised at the number of locals who have never been inside the building) I suggest you do so as soon as possible… it's worth it. Well done to all board members and staff for bringing about such positive change.

I will be away visiting family for all of October. Deputy Mayor Peter Gazey will be out and about representing Council at events. Say hello to him when you see him.

CBD Revitalisation 
 

Work at the CBD – Town Square is going as planned. Currently, 55% of the project is completed. Major Milestones achieved during the month of September 2020
  • Installation of Stratavault tree pit system completed
  • Electrical underground works completed
  • Hydraulic underground works completed
  • Foundation for Main Awning, Projector Screen, Flag Pole, Light Poles Completed
  • 50% of the exposed aggregate footpath poured and cured
For more updates head to the Katherine Town Council website.

Sportsground Updates

Oval 2 Resurfacing
The tender for the resurfacing of oval 2 has closed and Council is going through the process of awarding the tender. 

Sportsground Pavilion Upgrades
Katherine Town Council is currently developing documents for the pavilion upgrades and tenders are set to be released shortly.  

Showgrounds Upgrades

The Katherine $2.2 million dollars Showgrounds project is steaming along. The following upgrades have been completed; 
  • The access road
    • Three sections of road constructed
  • Hydraulic services
    • Completed during a 16 week program
  • Electrical services 
    • Completed during a 16 week program
More information regarding the Showgrounds upgrades can be found on the Katherine Town Council website.
Project funded by the Department of Tourism and Culture.

Scheduled Line Marking
 

Katherine Town Council staff have been undergoing line marking around the CBD. Fresh new paint works can be seen at a number of parking locations. While works are being completed Council asks that the traffic signs please be obeyed.

Sabu Sing - Stockmans Pioneer Memorial Katherine Icon

"Dedicated to the men and women of the Outback in appreciation for what they have done for us"

The Sabu Sing statue has seen recent upgrades and maintenance. Council partnered with RISE to upgrade the gardens, bins, seating and lighting around the Katherine icon. To find information on Sabu Sing click here.

Revealing Katherine Helicopters’ new experience with former AFL player Abbey Holmes

"Where is the best sunset spot in Katherine", Abbey asked the Visitor Information Centre team.

Knowing about Katherine Helicopters new sunset flight experience, an add-on landing with complimentary champagne and cheese platter, just outside Nitmiluk National Park, is exactly what Abbey Holmes and Henry Kidman wanted to see.

Abbey Holmes, previous AFL player and well-known Social Media influencer, had worked with the Katherine Visitor Information Centre on previous marketing campaigns and were again in Katherine to shoot for Tourism NT.

Due to a happy coincidence and well-connected network, George Graham from Katherine Helicopters couldn’t miss the opportunity to invite Abbey Holmes, Henry Kidman, Tourism Top End Industry Development Manager Steven Miles and KVIC Manager Annika Berendes on a sunset scenic flight.

“One of the best sunset spots in the Top End.”

Abbey and Henry shared their experience on multiple social media channels to promote tourism in Katherine. They have produced top marketing material, including video and photo footage for Katherine Helicopters and the centre to use.

Follow VisitKatherine on Facebook and Instagram and share your stories using #visitkatherine.
 

Product updates and other participation

While the first quarter of the new financial year continues strong, due to the NT Governments tourism voucher, Katherine Visitor Information Centre staff who started in July and existing staff participated in 16 famils. Familiarisations help to increase staff’s knowledge to promote and upsell tourism products within the region and to maintain strong relationships with tourism operators. One of our staff’s highlight was an overnight canoeing experience with Gecko Canoeing and Trekking.

Parks Australia, Lauren Thornton – Bowali Visitor Centre Coordinator, provided a detailed Kakadu National Park update to all of the staff.
 

Work Experience Student Damini

A student of Essington International Senior College Darwin completed work experience with the Katherine Town Council (21 – 25 September 2020). Damini who is in year 10 was very keen to learn more about the roles of the Council, the geographical location of Big Rivers Region, which Katherine is a part of and its cultural differences. He also used the opportunity to spend a week with his father who works in Katherine. During this period, Damini met with Acting Mayor Peter Gazey, Amanda Haigh from the Community Development Office, Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet and Casey Bishop of Kalano Community Association Inc. He said it was a good experience meeting with a prominent figure in Katherine and exciting to hear about their plans for the future of Katherine.
 
Damini helped the CEO unit during this time where he was able to establish a Mayor Protocol and attendance sheet for Mayor or Mayor’s representative. He also attended the Policy Review Committee meeting as an observer. “I learnt the importance of policies and how it impacts the council and I learnt how the Council hierarchy works,” said Damini. He is also hoping that this work experience can contribute positively to his CV. “In the future, I would like to return to Katherine to spend more time with my dad and to see the finished product of the CBD project”, he added.
 
The CEO, Ian Bodill and team wish him best of luck for his studies and future career.
 

Katherine Town Council Waste Management Strategy


Katherine Town Council is developing a waste management strategy to provide a framework to guide:
  • how it deals with household and commercial rubbish,
  • what fees and levies it charges for managing waste services,
  • how it can increase recycling and resource recovery practices,
  • meeting Environmental Protection Agency requirements,
  • provision of education and support services to the community,
  • what kind of facilities the community will need in the future.
The five year strategy will focus on the three R’s; Reduce, Re-use and Recycle. It will look into potential options for future waste management practices and facilities.
Recent studies have found the Katherine Waste Management Facility will reach the end of its life span in approximately 5-9 years and it is not possible to expand the current facility. Around 82 % of waste goes straight to landfill, but of the 18 % that is recycled, 15 % is merely re‑purposed and finds its way back into the landfill as cover material. The diversion rate of 3 % is significantly lower than the 60 % average for the rest of Australia. As a community, we need to manage our waste better to ensure our town is a liveable and vibrant place now and into the future.
True North Strategic Communication has been engaged to conduct a public consultation with the community on behalf of Council to gather feedback about ideas, attitudes and behaviours towards waste management. Community consultation is open from 9 October to 6 November 2020. Consultation activities will include:
  • Briefings for elected members, stakeholders and major users.
  • Letter to Ratepayers
  • Fact sheet
  • Interactive page on KTC’s Website
  • Media release
  • Surveys of Domestic and Commercial Users
  • Report of findings
A final strategy will be completed by the end of November.

Seniors Personal Safety Workshops 

Her Worship the Mayor, Mrs Fay Miller hosted Seniors Personal Safety Workshops at the Chambers, Civic Centre from 8-9 September 2020. These free of charge workshops were presented by qualified speakers/trainers from Personal Protection Strategies NT, Neighborhood Watch NT and Victims of Crime NT.

It was very well delivered and designed specifically for senior community members in Katherine.

The 28 people including the Mayor, Alderman Clark and Ian Bodill, Chief Executive Officer participated in this interactive workshop. Participants learnt about many important aspects such as identifying the type of potential abuse and harassment; manage the fear; feel safe at the public transport and car; and various of victims’ support services.

They also had the opportunity to practice physical activities and participated in role plays.

Library News

The Katherine Public Library secured a grant for Science Week 2020 and
purchased a 3D Printer. We held a very successful workshop with some budding designers. Library Officer, Ken introduced the kids to the printer and it functions then they were taught how to design something through a web-based program before watching their creations come to life. The library is keen to hold more workshops in the future.

                

Visitors to our Library
 
Recently we have been lucky enough to have visiting Darwin author Sue Moffitt come to our library to present her latest book “Darwin for All Seasons”.
We have invited Sue back again once the rains start to talk about her previous book “Darwin in the Wet”.

                                        

            

Jobs Vacant at Katherine Town Council  

Katherine Town Council has various positions available. Please see the below; 
  • Community Support Officer (Events Coordinator) 
    • 1 Year Maximum Term Tenure  
    • Level 5 ($62,148.14 - $79,069.79) + District Allowance 
  • Operations Manager 
    • Permanent Full Time
    • Level 7 (Suitable salary for the right candidate) 
  • Library Programs Coordinator 
    • Permanent Part-Time - 30hrs per week 
    • Level 4 ($30.38 - $34.87 an hour) + District Allowance 
  • Infrastructure & Environment Administration Officer
    • 1 Year Maximum Term Tenure  
    • Level 4 ($60,046.23 - $76,395.57) + District Allowance 
  • Depot Employee
    • Permanent Full Time
    •  Level 3 ($51,954.46 - $66,100.59) + District Allowance 
  • Customer Service Officer  
    • Permanent Full Time 
    • Level 3 ($51,954.46 - $66,100.59)

For your application to be considered it must be submitted through the Katherine Town Council website. Information regarding positions can be found on the Council website. 
Solanum Succosum

Keep an eye out for this new plant in our region. It has the potential to have an effect on the aesthetics of our property particularly if you have cattle or horses.

Solanum Succosum is native to the Northern Territory and relatively widespread and common throughout the lower 2/3rds of the NT and is not declared as a plant. The stem and leaves are armed with spines and caution would be advised. For more information click about the Solanum succosum click
here.

Steel-Jawed Traps - Injured Domestic Dog

Published on Monday 21 September 2020

The community are asked to be on the lookout for illegal animal traps after Council Rangers located a dog which had become ensnared on Friday 18 September. The dog was found in the vicinity of the Low-Level Nature Reserve with its entire paw in a steel-jawed trap. Fortunately, the dog was registered, and the owner was able to be contacted. The dog required urgent medical assistance and the dog is on the road to recovery.

Council wishes to advise the public that the use of steel-jawed traps are inhumane and it is illegal to use in most states and territories, including the Northern Territory.

These traps inflict excruciating pain on target animals, as well as many non-target animals including our native wildlife.

Community members are encouraged to contact NT Police or Katherine Town Council should they come across an illegal animal trap. If you are a property owner and have an animal control issue, Council would like to encourage you to contact services that are provided by the Northern Territory Government https://nt.gov.au/environment/animals and the local veterinary services in the first instance, before using these traps. Again, using these traps are illegal.

Council also has services that can be utilised such as cat traps. Council Rangers have strategies in place to assist property owners with effective animal management and responsible dog ownership.


 
Adventure Play Park Reopen Tuesday 29 September 

Published on Tuesday, 29 September 2020 

Katherine Town Council is pleased to announce that shade structure upgrades at the Adventure Play Park have now been completed.


The Adventure Play Park will reopen at 7 am, Tuesday 29 September 2020.

"It is wonderful to have this facility open in time for the school holidays. We hope this allows for even more use of the playground for many years to come" said Acting Mayor, Peter Gazey.


The completion of this project by local company, Katherine Constructions now completes the conversion to permanent solid structures, improving sun safety and providing additional comfort
to users at the facility.


Katherine Town Council would like to thank the Katherine community for their patience whilst this project was completed.

Problem Tree Removed

Due to the continuous breaks to a watermain that supplies the towns treated water, the large Mahogany tree located on First Street (near McDonalds) was reluctantly removed on Tuesday 15th September 2020.

The root system was currently affecting the 300mm diameter watermain and had the possibility to impact other essential infrastructure located within the vicinity. Costs to redivert the affected infrastructure were in excess of $300k.

Taking the possible risks into consideration and the wasted water, the removal was deemed the correct decision.

 “Everyone is aware of my feelings of removing trees. I am very, very sad to see this tree go, however, I understand the reasoning” said Fay Miller.

 

Katherine - Great Northern Clean Up 2020

Saturday 17 October 2020. Come along and take part in preparing Katherine for the upcoming wet season.

Together we can help to keep our community clean and ensure no rubbish is ending up washing into our beautiful Katherine River.

Registrations will take place at Ryan Park (near the old Railway Bridge).
Time: 7:30am to 10:30am

Registered participants are welcome to hang around after for a free sausage sandwich and a cold drink.

Please remember to bring a hat, closed in shoes, sunscreen and a water bottle

October Ordinary Meeting of Council 

Tuesday 27 October 2020. The agenda for the council meeting will be available the Thursday before the meeting and can be found on the Katherine Town Council website. 

Facebook
Website
Email
Katherine Town Council
Civic Centre, Lot 1865 Stuart Highway Katherine NT, 0850
P (08) 8972 5500
F (08) 8971 0305
E records@ktc.nt.gov.au 


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can 
update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list






This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
Katherine Town Council · PO Box 1071 · Katherine, Nt 0851 · Australia