Katherine Land Use Plan 2014

In 2014, the Katherine Land Use Plan was incorporated in the NT Planning Scheme. In 2016 the Planning Commission reviewed the plan, and recommended an amendment to provide Katherine with a locality suitable for a neighbourhood centre to be established in the future.

The Katherine Town Centre Retail and Commercial Analysis 2015, undertaken by MacroPlan Dimasi for the Katherine Region Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee, is of particular interest. It shows that Katherine does not have sufficient retail and commercial floor space, with a further 5000m² required in the town. It looks at a range of options to address the undersupply. These include developing a neighbourhood centre that:

  • is conveniently located for the growing Katherine East population
  • is immune to flood risk and damage and can be used as a community resource in times of flood
  • is capped in terms of development area to minimise impacts on the existing town centre.

The current plan reinforces the role of the existing commercial hub on Katherine Terrace and identifies a site in the later stages of the Katherine East urban area for long-term retail and commercial development. While Katherine East remains suitable for long-term commercial development, it will not be constructed until the surrounding residential and future hospital precinct begins to take shape.

As a more immediate solution, the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment has identified a site off the Stuart Highway in Katherine East adjacent to the Katherine Research Station. Subject to further investigation, it is proposed that this site be used for a neighbourhood centre, which could include a supermarket and a small number of speciality retail stores.

The Commission is keen to hear comments and feedback from the Katherine community about this proposal.

Note:

Documents available here for completed Planning Commission projects are final in relation only to the Planning Commissions’ work.

The Minister is the decision-maker on all proposed amendments to the NT Planning Scheme. Documents included in the NT Planning Scheme are not necessarily identical to those prepared by the NT Planning Commission.

Refer to the NT Planning Scheme page on the NT Government website to view documents currently included in the NT Planning Scheme.