Fears raised rural suburbs of Holtze and Kowandi could come under Palmerston council control

Fears have been raised that the NT Government is considering to expand the Palmerston council boundary to take over the rural suburbs of Holtze and Kowandi.

• NT budget: 5000 residential lots to be released in Holtze and Kowandi as part of $15m plan to bolster NT’s population

FEARS have been raised that the NT Government is considering to expand the Palmerston council boundary to take over the rural suburbs of Holtze and Kowandi.

The NT Government revealed last month more than 5000 new residential lots would become available across Holtze and Kowandi.

Stage one headworks are planned to commence in late 2022-23 with the first stage of titles expected to be readily available from 2026 for when they are needed.

Litchfield North Ward councillor Mathew Salter said the government had flagged Holtze and Kowandi — which are currently in his council area — could be moved under Palmerston council’s local government boundary.

It comes after the government released plans to expand the Palmerston boundary to include parts of Berrimah, Elrundie, Tivendale and Wishart on May 11.

“We’re losing out on 5000 new ratepayers that would’ve brought in the growth we need to support a new swimming pool or library for the rural area in the future,” Mr Salter said.

The NT Planning Commission has started a three-stage planning process to develop a subregional land use plan for the areas around Palmerston including Holtze and Kowandi. Source: NT Planning Commission

Goyder MLA Kezia Purick said shared his concerns about a potential Palmerston council expansion.

She said she the Chief Minister Michael Gunner had flagged the change would likely go ahead because Litchfield council “doesn’t have capacity.”

A government spokeswoman has confirmed Mr Gunner and Planning Minister Eva Lawler met with the Litchfield deputy mayor and Palmerston mayor on April 30 to discuss the proposed Holtze and Kowandi development

“They were advised that no decision has been made on which local government area will have care and control of these suburbs and this matter will be worked through in the lead up to land entering the market in 2026,” she said.

It comes after the NT Planning Commission today released subregional land use plan for the Palmerston area — which included Holtze and Kowandi — to provide direction for “future urban growth”.

Palmerston mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said their council has made no submission to the NT Government for the acquisition of any land that is part of the Litchfield Council municipality.

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