Petition opposing retail in new Katherine East Area Plan put before parliament

A plan for a Top End town which includes 8000 sqm full-line supermarket has been met with backlash and has even reached parliament.

Picture: File.

A PETITION has been published to parliament protesting parts of the Katherine East Area Plan.

The plan oversees how the suburb, 2.5km east of Katherine’s town centre, would be redeveloped into “two neighbourhoods with higher density centres surrounded by lower density residential areas”.

Katherine CLP MLA Jo Hersey introduced a petition to parliament on Wednesday opposing the plan with 51 petitioners, which would “appeal or amend the Katherine East Area Plan to remove the retail component”.

Ms Hersey said the retal component would have a “significant and ongoing detrimental impact on the economic vitality and vitality of the town centre”.

The petition was passed by the parliament.

A map of the Katherine East development. Picture: NT Government

MORE TOP NEWS

The area plan includes a commercial centre with provision for a 8000 sqm supermarket.

The plan however acknowledges the need for a “limit on the amount of retail floor space”, which would not overwhelm the town in sustainable in the near-term

“The intent of this Focus Area is to support development of a centre that includes a diverse mix of medium density housing with commercial, retail and public open space that supports economic and social activity,” the report said.