Published on Wednesday, 13 August 2025 at 3:47:50 PM
Katherine Town Council has secured $1,607,918 through the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program to design a multi-purpose regional sports, recreation, and community precinct linking the Katherine Aquatic Centre and surrounding sporting facilities. The Council-led project will be delivered in partnership with the Northern Territory Government, Katherine-based NGOs, Indigenous organisations, and local sporting and community groups to create a modern, all-weather destination for sport, recreation, community gatherings, and significant events.
Katherine Town Council CEO Ingrid Stonhill said the funding is the first big step towards developing a facility that will serve the entire Big Rivers region.
“This investment allows us to work with our partners to design a precinct that supports healthy lifestyles, community connection, and economic activity year-round,” said Ms Stonhill.
At the heart of the project is the NT Government-owned Henry Scott Recreation Centre, which will be replaced with a modern indoor sports and community facility. The upgraded centre will provide competition-standard indoor courts for sports such as netball, basketball, and hockey; include change rooms, public amenities, and office space for allied health and community services and offer an air-conditioned venue for large social functions, conferences, and community events. The building will also serve as an evacuation centre during significant weather events, with space for NGOs to provide essential support services.
The new facility will be physically linked to the Katherine Aquatic Centre and other planned sporting developments, improving connectivity, parking, and pedestrian access across the 29-hectare Katherine Sports Ground. This centrally located precinct is already the sporting and active recreation heart of the community, attracting more than 240,000 visits annually and offering easy access from the CBD and Katherine East via cycle and walking paths.
The Katherine Sports Ground Masterplan 2018–2027 identified the need for a year-round, indoor facility to address seasonal heat and wet-season rainfall that limit outdoor sport and recreation. This new funding will deliver shovel-ready designs and documentation to make that vision a reality.
Ms Stonhill said the project will improve community health and wellbeing and attract regional competitions, conferences, and events, boosting tourism and the local economy.
“This is an investment in Katherine’s future. It will create a precinct that brings people together, celebrates our sporting culture, and strengthens our role as the heart of the Big Rivers region,” Ms Stonhill said.
Photo caption: Mayor Lis Clark, The Hon. Kristy McBain (Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) and Katherine Town Council CEO Ingrid Stonhill.
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