The Giles Government has announced the draft Terms of Reference and membership of the Darwin and Katherine Regional Flood Mitigation committees.
“The Territory Government has committed $50 million from the proceeds of TIO for flood mitigation works and these two committees are being established to make recommendations on how the funding can best be spent, providing value for money for taxpayers,” Chief Minister Adam Giles said.
A pool of $25 million has been set aside for works in Rapid Creek and the Darwin Rural Area, while another $25 million has been allocated for Katherine, including $7.6 million to move the town’s Ambulance Centre out of the flood zone.
“The goal of these committees is to guide the development of strategies which improve community safety, as well as reduce the damage, disruption and costs associated with major flood events,” Mr Giles said.
Member for Sanderson Peter Styles will chair the Darwin Regional Committee.
“Flood mitigation is expensive work that no Government has ever been willing to do before and I’m pleased that these two committees will start work next month,” Mr Styles said.
Member for Katherine Willem Westra van Holthe will chair his local committee.
“I am very pleased to see good community representation on the Katherine Region Flood Mitigation Committee. We have a variety of people with a wide range of skill sets,” Mr Westra van Holthe said.
“Flood mitigation will help protect Katherine from the effects of floods as experienced in years gone by. As Chair of the Committee I want to see these dollars stretched to deliver the best possible results for Katherine.”
Katherine Mayor Fay Miller has welcomed the announcement.
“I’m pleased we’re having this discussion about this extremely serious issue for Katherine residents,” Ms Miller said.
The Government is working with the Insurance Council about how they can also be involved in the committees.
Technical advice will be provided to the committees by a range of Government Departments and the NT Emergency Services.
Each committee will produce a final report for Government consideration by the end of June 2015.