26 November 2021
Properties in Katherine North will be better protected from flooding as the Territory Labor Government has awarded the tender for the first stage of construction of the flood mitigation embankment and wall levees.
Local business Black Cat Civil Pty Ltd has been awarded the $10 million project which will:
Increase Katherine’s flood resilience; andImprove flood protection of Katherine North residential areas in flooding events up to a 1-in-20 year event.
Flood modelling has identified the levee banks and upgraded drainage will provide the greatest reduction in flood impact for the smaller, more frequent flood events, like that experienced in 2006.
The full levee works includes a combination of earth embankments, concrete walls and a temporary levee for road crossings.
The Katherine North Levee is the first stage of works, and will:
Run from the northern side of Knotts Crossing Resort and Caravan Park, near the old Katherine Airstrip, along the eastern side of Katherine Town to the Stuart Highway; andPrevent overflows from Lockheed Drain during the 20 year (72 hr) flood event.
The second stage of works in Katherine South was recently announced with the federal government committing $9.4 million to the project, and a tender for this is anticipated for release in 2022.
The Katherine North and South flood mitigation embankment and wall levees form one part of a suite of initiatives to improve Katherine’s flood resilience, which already include the new fire and ambulance stations, and the headworks to support the release of flood-free commercial land to support growth in Katherine East.
Quotes from the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Eva Lawler:
“Investing in this project will not only support jobs and local business, it will also protect residents, their properties and their businesses into the future from Katherine’s more frequent flooding events.
“We remember the flooding events that Katherine has experienced, and this government does not want to see something like that again. These embankment and wall levees will ensure the town of Katherine is better protected from these types of floods.”
Northern Territory Government
