Katherine Town Council may vacate headquarters ahead of wet season as roof begins to fail

The council has been granted permission to take out a loan of up to $5m to fund urgent rectification works to its 42-year-old administrative hub, which is so leaky it is “dangerous” for staff to occupy in the wet.

Katherine Town Council’s 42-year-old administrative hub, the Civic Centre, requires urgent rectification works, particularly to its failing roof. Picture: Alex Treacy

Katherine Town Council’s headquarters is so badly degraded the council’s employees may have to vacate the building ahead of the coming wet season, with the NT Government advising the dated centre is non-compliant with both local and national building codes.

The decades-old Civic Centre, which sits in parkland beside the Katherine River and houses the council chambers and administrative staff, needs urgent repairs to remain habitable, chief executive Ingrid Stonhill said in a letter to then Local Government Minister Chansey Paech in May this year.

“As discussed with you on your recent visit, the Katherine Civic building, built over 42 years ago, is in need of urgent major works so the building can remain occupied,” she said.

“Although there are many issues with the building, the biggest and most urgent is the replacement of the roof before the wet season otherwise council administration will have to move out due to the occupational safety risk to remain in the building.”

Katherine Town Council CEO Ingrid Stonhill. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The NT Government had earlier cracked down on the council, issuing it six “rectification requirements” in order for the building to remain occupied.

The Civic Centre was non-compliant with both Territory and commonwealth codes and standards, the council was informed.

Ms Stonhill requested, and was subsequently granted (as required under NT legislation), permission for the council to obtain a loan facility of up to $5 million to fund the repairs.

Whereas in May there had still been a flicker of hope the roof replacement may be complete before the wet, it has since been snuffed.

The council now accepts it will either need to find a new, temporary home for its administrative staff, or otherwise tough it out for one last wet, notwithstanding the fact it is on the verge of becoming unsafe, according to Katherine Mayor Lis Clark.

Katherine Town Council’s 42-year-old administrative hub, the Civic Centre, requires urgent rectification works, particularly to its failing roof. Picture: Katie Hall

Ms Clark said of the last wet season it leaked “so badly … [it was] dangerous to be in the building”.

“It’s a very difficult situation but if it’s not done, we can’t be in there,” she said.

“It was so bad last wet, three rooms in particular, water running down a column.”

Another issue was the building’s noncompliance with disability access requirements, Ms Clark said.

The veteran mayor echoed Ms Stonhill’s position in the initial letter to Mr Paech – that the scale of repairs needed and their urgency meant taking on debt via a bank loan was the only feasible option.

Grants are not typically available for councils to repair their own premises, and would nevertheless would likely require a multimillion dollar co-contribution, the sort of cash regional councils don’t have conveniently to hand (cash reserves are typically invested in term deposits).

Ms Clark said urgent planning was underway to begin the rectification process, which the council hopes can be completed during the 2025 dry season.

This masthead understands the council is taking a ‘wait and see’ approach as to whether its staff will need to vacate the building, with the ultimate course of action likely to hinge on how intense the upcoming wet becomes.