News

Katherine Town Council has adopted its Municipal Plan 2026/27, which sets the Council's priorities, budget, work program and rates and charges for the year ahead. The adopted Plan reflects community feedback received during consultation and outlines how Council will continue delivering essential services while investing in Katherine's future.

Katherine residents are invited to help address community safety concerns by submitting an Expression of Interest to be on the Katherine Community Safety Action Group (CSAG), led by the Katherine Town Council. The initiative was proposed by Councillor Anjali Palmer and endorsed by Council as part of its efforts to support community-led solutions to local safety concerns.

Katherine Town Council is inviting residents, businesses and community organisations to review and provide feedback on the Draft Municipal Plan 2026/27.

Katherine Town Council will trial changed operating hours at the Katherine Waste Management Facility from Monday, 25 May 2026. For the three-month trial, the facility will open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Sunday, including public holidays.

Katherine residents are being asked to help decide which local charity will receive the proceeds from the auction of the special KC 100 Centenary number plate.

Katherine Town Council is inviting sporting clubs, community groups, local businesses and vendors to be part of one of the biggest events in Katherine’s Centenary Year.

Katherine Town Council is inviting Expressions of Interest from community members, local businesses, waste management industry representatives, Aboriginal organisations and regional stakeholders to join a new Waste Management Strategy Review Working Group.

Katherine Town Council acknowledges the Federal Court order made on 23 March 2026 in relation to ongoing legal proceedings connected to Ingrid Stonhill’s employment as Chief Executive Officer.

From Friday, 20 March, Katherine Town Council’s Waste Management Facility will reopen to the public for limited items, with flood-affected waste still accepted free of charge and standard fees applying to all other waste. The temporary waste facility at the Katherine Weigh Bridge will close to public access from the close of business on Thursday and remain open to authorised contractors only. Verge collections will continue for flood-damaged items only, and residents are asked to use their wheelie bins for general household waste to help keep the clean-up focused and efficient.

Katherine Town Council has activated additional waste services to support residents in cleaning up after the recent flooding.

Verge collection to begin from Thursday, 20 March for flood affected areas. Residents in Katherine's flood affected areas can start bringing out their damaged whitegoods, furniture, clothing, bedding and other items onto their verges for collection.

Katherine Town Council has unveiled the official events program to mark 100 years since Katherine was gazetted as a town, with a calendar full of opportunities for locals and visitors to celebrate the milestone together. Katherine Town Council’s Centenary calendar runs from June to August and is packed with opportunities for locals and visitors to get involved, reconnect and be part of this once-in-a-generation milestone.

Katherine Town Council is calling on locals to roll up their sleeves and get involved in this year’s Clean Up Australia campaign, with great prizes up for grabs. Running now until 16 March 2026, the month-long campaign gives residents, schools, businesses and community groups time to clean up a spot that matters to them — whether it’s your street, a favourite walking track, a fishing spot, or somewhere you enjoy spending time. Taking part is simple. Fill a bag with rubbish, take a photo and submit it through the Snap Send Solve app to go into the draw to win local gift vouchers. Participants are reminded to include their contact details with their entry.

Katherine Town Council is seeking community feedback on a proposal to relocate the Visitor Information Centre and co-locate it with the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre. The proposal was approved by a prior Council, and funding has been secured for the relocation. Since taking office, the current Council has committed to checking back in with the community before proceeding with the proposal. No final decision has been made.

Katherine Town Council marked Australia Day 2026 with a full day of community celebrations, recognising new citizens, its citizens of the year and bringing residents together to celebrate Katherine’s centenary year.

Katherine Town Council has pulled together a full day of Australia Day celebrations on Monday, 26 January 2026, including the Council’s first centenary-inspired event, as we commemorate 100 years since Katherine was annexed as a town.

Katherine Town Council has welcomed the release of a limited-edition Centenary of Katherine number plate series, developed as part of Council’s Centenary of Katherine 2026 program.

Katherine Town Council is spreading the Christmas cheer after securing Northern Territory Government funding to provide free public admission to the Katherine Aquatic Centre during the January school holiday period. Free entry will be available from 29 December to 27 January.

Katherine’s disability community came together for a mid-morning formal awards ceremony today at Knotts Crossing Resort to recognise people and organisations making a difference in the lives of people living with disability. The event celebrated achievement, inclusion and community strength and wrapped up with a celebratory disco.

On Saturday, the 29th of November, Katherine will celebrate one of its most important community infrastructure milestones with the public reopening of the transformed Katherine Aquatic Centre.

Katherine Town Council has considered the recent decision issued by Commissioner Riordan of the Fair Work Commission on 3 November 2025, in relation to a matter between the United Workers Union and the Katherine Town Council ([2025] FWC 5542). After careful review, Council has decided it will not appeal the Commissioner’s decision and will support the determination.

Katherine Town Council is giving residents a head start on their wet season clean-up with a limited offer fee waiver when they dispose of some bulky items at the waste facility. The pre-cyclone clean-up will take place at the Waste Management Facility on Saturday, 15 November and Saturday, 29 November 2025, from 8 am to 2 pm allowing Katherine residents to safely dispose of a designated number of large household items at no cost over those two days.

Whether it’s strolling through Christmas markets, watching the town’s Christmas tree light up or singing along to Santa Claus is coming to Town – Katherine has it all. In readiness for the season, Katherine Town Council has released the annual Christmas in K-Town Calendar showcasing all our special Christmas events.

Katherine Town Council has ticked off another major milestone toward the much-anticipated reopening of the Katherine Aquatic Centre in November. Following an extensive tender process, the Katherine Town Council announced that the Y Northern Territory (YMCA) has been selected as the new operator of the Aquatic Centre, with local company HD Pumps to provide specialist maintenance services.

Katherine Town Council is urging residents to nominate the people and events that make our town a better place for the 2026 Katherine Citizen of the Year Awards.

Katherine Town Council’s newly elected Mayor, Joanna Holden, and Councillors Kathryn Whitehouse, Jim King, Mel Doyle, Toni Tapp Coutts, Kathy Glass and Anjali Palmer will be formally sworn in on Tuesday, 23 September 2025.

The Katherine River is one of our town’s greatest assets, and a favourite place for walking, riding, fishing, and relaxing at the Hot Springs. Next Sunday, residents are invited to help care for it by joining our much-loved, annual Great Spring Clean Up 2025.

The Northern Territory Electoral Commission this morning formally declared the results of the 2025 NT local government elections for Katherine Town Council.

The Joy of Many Colours Katherine Multicultural Festival is back on Saturday, 30th August, from 4 pm-9 pm at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre.

Katherine Town Council’s Civic Centre will close from 1 September 2025, with services temporarily relocating to the former Roper Gulf Regional Council building at 29 Crawford Street, Katherine East.