Help shape the future of Katherine East

• Introduction
• What are Area Plans?
• The process to create the Area Plan
• Resources and reading material
• Get Involved

Introduction

The Northern Territory Planning Commission is now commencing the second stage of community consultation on draft Area Plan for the suburb of Katherine East.

This is an opportunity to build on the vision expressed in the Katherine Land Use Plan 2014 and to provide long-term guidance for land use and development in both residential and commercial land in Katherine East.  The Katherine community are being asked to have a say on planning for important land uses in Katherine East, including the three focus areas.

Katherine is central to the regions’ tourism, agribusiness and defence sectors and sits at the junction of the Stuart and Victoria Highway linking north to south and out to Western Australia.

What are Area Plans?

Area Plans are land use and development policies within the Northern Territory Planning Scheme which guide the future use and development of land and provide a detailed framework for land use change.  These plans contain planning principles and objectives to give the community, industry, and decision-makers confidence and understanding about potential land uses.

Area Plans are included in the NT Planning Scheme and must be considered by the Minister or the Development Consent Authority whenever a rezoning or development is proposed. Area Plans do not alter existing use rights and land can continue to be used in accordance with the current land use zone.

Area Plans do not automatically rezone land. If a landowner wants to develop in accordance with the Area Plan, the landowner must first rezone the land by applying to the Minister responsible for administering the Planning Act 1999.

Area Plans try to look as far ahead as possible but, in time, they may be reviewed to meet the future needs and aspirations of the community.  Any change to an Area Plan is a Planning Scheme Amendment and must follow the process set out in the Planning Act 1999, including public exhibition.

The draft Katherine East Area Plan

The draft Katherine East Area Plan builds on the overarching direction provided by the Katherine Land Use Plan 2014.

Community feedback will be a key influence in assisting in preparing the Area Plan. Preparing the Area Plan also provides an opportunity for services authorities like Power and Water Corporation and local councils to plan for future infrastructure services such as power, water, sewerage, roads and drainage.

The draft Area Plan is  supported by a draft Land Capability and Needs Assessment document, which contains a record of investigations, and additional studies that were undertaken during stage one.  The intention of the Needs Assessment is to sit within the background documents section of the NT Planning Scheme.  It is recommend that where there are questions about interpretation or policy position of the draft Area Plan that the Needs Assessment is utilised as a reference.

The process to create the Area Plan

The Katherine East Area Plan is being developed over three stages.

Stage one occurred from 9 November 2018 to 14 December 2018, and included the release of a discussion paper and community consultation.

Stage Two is happening now until Friday 21 June 2019 and includes the release of the Draft Area Plan (11.5 mb) and the Draft Land Capability and Needs Assessments (12.6 mb) for consultation.

Stage Three is the final stage of the project.  The Planning Commission will finalise and recommend the Area Plan and associated documents to the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics for public exhibition as a proposed amendment to the Northern Territory Planning Scheme.

Resources and reading material

Stage 2

• Draft  Katherine East Area Plan (11.5 mb)
• Draft Land Capability and Needs Assessment (12.6 mb)
• Flyer - Draft Katherine East Area Plan (1.7 mb)

Stage 1

• Stage One Consultation Report  (433.6 kb)
• Flyer – Katherine East Area Plan  (676.5 kb)
• Discussion Paper – Preparing an Area Plan for Katherine East (8.9 mb)

Background Resources

• Katherine Land Use Plan 2014 (amended 2016) (external link - NT Government)

Get involved

Stage Two is an opportunity for you to be involved in the planning process.

All feedback received will help us develop the final Area Plan, so come and visit the community information displays at Equalitea Café or stop past our pop-stalls at Katherine Community Markets or Katherine Central Shopping Centre during the next few weeks.

Come and talk to us

We will be at the following locations for you to find out more and let us know what is important to you.

Write to us

Use our contact form or send us an email or letter with your thoughts about the future of the Katherine East area

• Provide brief feedback now using our Contact Form
• Upload a written submission
• Send an email to ntpc@nt.gov.au
• Write to Planning Commission

Katherine East Area Plan

NT Planning Commission

GPO Box 1680

DARWIN NT 0810