Katherine Aquatic Centre upgrade nudges $12m
Confidence the redevelopment of Katherine Town Council’s Aquatic Centre could be delivered within its $10m budget has faded after it was found additional contributions from council would be required despite significant government grants.
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Confidence the redevelopment of Katherine Town Council’s Aquatic Centre could be delivered within its $10m budget has faded after it was found additional contributions from council would be required to complete the project despite significant government grants.
This masthead previously reported delays and expected cost blowouts for the redevelopment, but the size of the blowout was unknown.
The total cost of the redevelopment is now listed at $11.8m – with $10.5m coming from federal and NT Government grants and the remaining from a $1.3m council contingency fund, which will cover the cost of shade sails and a splash pool for children.
The shade sails and splash pool were previously axed from the development due to budget restraints, with Mayor Lis Clark telling this masthead in December “funds for the splash zone were being investigated” and project financials were unknown.
With the redevelopment still expected to be finished by October this year, Katherine Town Council chief executive Ingrid Stonhill said further funding would be welcomed but did not anticipate further blowouts as previously reported.
“There’s infrastructure we would like to include in the aquatic centre which will require additional grant funding if and when it becomes available,” she said.
“For example, BBQs and water play equipment would be great, so any extra Territory or Federal Government funding is always welcome.”
The redevelopment is still expected to be finished by October this year, Ms Stonhill says.
Earlier this month, Katherine Town Council also backed the decision to move ahead with a $5m loan application to upgrade its civic centre.
Despite this masthead previously reporting the civic centre and pool upgrades would heap further financial pressure on the council, Ms Stonhill said the upgrade had “no bearing on the pool.”
“Council hasn’t taken the loan out yet, the recent Council decision was to go ahead with the $5m loan application for the civic centre upgrades,” she said.
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