Katherine promised new $13.3m levee after town's worst flood in 28 years
Months on from the worst flooding Katherine has seen in almost three decades, the regional Northern Territory town has welcomed a $13.3m government promise to establish a new levee.
Residents of Katherine, a town in Northern Territory, have welcomed a $13.3 million government promise to construct a new levee following the region's worst flood in 28 years. The project, which will cost $13.3 million and is funded by both the Northern Territory and federal governments, is expected to protect an additional 210 homes and businesses.
The levee, which will be 3 kilometres long, will feature 1.6-metre high dirt embankments and a 1.5-metre high levee wall. The construction timeline and commencement date are yet to be determined. Mayor Joanna Holden expressed optimism about the announcement, noting that the federal government had previously promised $9.1 million, but the additional funding from the Northern Territory could lead to a better outcome for Katherine.
The new levee is expected to provide greater protection against a one in 20-year flood event and will extend from the western side of the Katherine Country Club to the southern tip of Katherine South on the Victoria Highway. However, the mayor emphasized that the council has not yet been involved in the planning process and is keen to ensure that the project does not impose additional costs on ratepayers or local infrastructure.
Local volunteer Trent de With welcomed the new infrastructure, stating that it would help push future floodwater further away from residential streets. He also noted that local stormwater drains would need to be investigated, as they often fill with floodwater, leading to inundation of lower-lying roads.
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