Published on Thursday, 24 September 2026 at 8:33:09 AM
Katherine Town Council extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the young boy who tragically lost his life at the Katherine Low Level Bridge yesterday. This is a devastating loss for his family and for our community. Our thoughts are also with the emergency services personnel involved in the search and recovery operation.
The Low Level Bridge was built in 1942 as an urgent wartime project and has now served the Katherine community for more than 80 years. It is an important part of our town's history and still provides a convenient river crossing, but it was designed and built for a very different purpose and time.
The bridge has also been repeatedly affected by major wet season flooding, but no major work has taken place on it other than post-flood repairs since it was built. Council believes it is time to look beyond continuing repairs and patch-ups and begin planning for a safer, modern replacement.
The history of the Low Level Bridge is intertwined with different levels of government. It was originally constructed as part of the Commonwealth's wartime infrastructure program, and responsibility for infrastructure in and around the crossing has shifted among different levels of government over its long history.
Given the bridge's long history and in light of this recent tragedy, in addition to past drownings at the same site, Council believes the Australian Government, Northern Territory Government, and Katherine Town Council must come together to determine and implement a long-term solution for this important piece of infrastructure.
Our community requires a river crossing designed for today's Katherine, one that retains the important connection the Low Level Bridge provides while addressing the safety risks associated with an 84-year-old bridge and weir.
Council is calling on all three levels of government to work together to investigate replacing the Low Level Bridge with a safer structure and secure the investment needed to deliver it.
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