Katherine Helicopters propose new helipad and new caravan park mooted for Katherine

One of the two proposed plans in Katherine submitted in recent weeks will see tourists get a bird’s eye view of a glistening nearby attraction. SEE THE PLANS.

TWO tourism proposals have been lodged around Katherine in a sign the Top End town could play host to greater visitor numbers in coming years.

The proposals are two new helipads next to the Katherine Museum and the overhaul of an existing campground into a caravan park.

The helipads will take visitors soaring over Nitmiluk Gorge while the caravans will help cater to the Territory’s growing grey nomad market.

The new helipads have been proposed on the site of the Katherine Museum, in plans which could bolster the region’s tourism industry.

Katherine Gorge. Photograph: Che Chorley

The service would be run by Katherine Helicopters in collaboration with the museum, with the helipad sites to be located on the south west end of the museum grounds.

The company currently offer tour flights up to Katherine Gorge, as well as a variety of other trips throughout the Top End of Australia.

Katherine MLA Jo Hersey said the Katherine Museum was an “integral part of the community” and that the proposed helipads would provide immense benefit for the region. “The helipads will be a great draw card to the Katherine Museum and potentially get more tourists through the door and keep tourists in town for an extra night,” Ms Hersey said.

A flight route (in green) of the proposed helipad location in Katherine. Picture: Upside Planning

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade also expressed optimism for the proposed tourism development, saying it would provide a “unique tourism experience” for visitors.

Knotts Crossing Report general manager Jo Pace said she supported the proposal.

Ms Pace said the helipads could help the tourism industry in Katherine get back on its feet, as well as provide much-needed support to the Katherine Museum.

“It will be a positive thing … it will enhance the visitor stay in the Katherine region,” she said.

“The museum is a way in which we can showcase the history of Katherine. It’s an important part of the tourism facilities we have for those coming to our region.”

The application regarding the helipads has been lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics and is currently being processed.

If it gets the green light, it is expected to cater for up to four helicopter flights a day at the height of the tourism season in June, with flights operating from 9am to 1pm on weekdays.

It isn’t the first time the area has been used for aviation. The planning application notes that there was a “historic (disused) airfield to the southwest” of the museum site.

The helipads would only be active for five months of the year, between June and October.

Helicopters would be routed away from the nearby nursing home to prevent disruption to the facility.

A plan for how the new caravan park along the Katherine River will look like. Picture: Upside Planning

Meanwhilee, it’s hoped plans for a new caravan park near Katherine could breathe new life into a part of the Springvale Homestead.

A proposal put forward by private owner Michael Shepherd will beef-up the popular camping spot into a caravanning ­destination.

The area for the proposed caravan park is on a site that was previously part of the Springvale Homestead before its subdivision in 1973, and has been used as a campground since.

Now Mr Shepherd, who bought the land last year, is looking to establish the location for caravanners, and with ­almost 25ha to play with on the banks of the Katherine River, has the space and aesthetic to attract people looking for a self-contained holiday.

The proposed site would be open in the dry season only, and be set up to cater for guests with self-contained caravans and campervans, with dry camping not available.

The proposal states the caravan will “bring under-­utilised land into economic use to the benefit of the tourist economy”.

Access to the facility from Katherine would be from Shadforth Rd.

Plans show an office and recreation area, multiple dwellings and a camp kitchen and barbecue area dotted around the site.

There would be 20 caravan spots in total, located only ­metres from the Katherine River.

The existing campground at the site of the Springvale Homestead has been well used since its establishment in 1973.

The planning application notes “its original owner and subsequent owner developed and operated it as a ­religious destination which provided camping and convention space”.

The application notes it had played host to over 1000 guests simultaneously “at times”.

Given its proximity to the Katherine River, the proposed facility would be closed ­between November and April. The application notes the site is within areas that are subject to flooding risks.

The development application argued that the addition of caravan facilities would constitute an additional tourist ­attraction that “will help ­address unmet need and in doing so support the purpose of the (Katherine Land Use Plan 2014)”.