Katherine Times Wed 24 Jan 2018
Katherine Times; NewspaperNT
2018-01-24
English
Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Katherine; Katherine (N.T.) -- Newspapers
North Australian News for Katherine Times
Katherine
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North Australian News for Katherine Times
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1968A00054
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/754292
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/776710
'98 FLOOD- 20 YEARS ON Wednesday January 24, 2018 KATHERINETIMES 11katherinetimes.com.au ~ ~ Spacial a-page llood en Katherine residents, government workers from a ll parts of the Territory, armed forces personnel and hundreds of volunteers are working furiously to clean up the town following record floods this week. Despite the enormity of the task, there JS a feeling of optirni!>rn notict'abl~ in dll parts of the town. Th~rt! are do:;:ens of hc<~rt warming ~tories of pcoph: who hilve lo:;t everything pu~hing themselves to the limit to help others. Territory Government min is ters and loc:nl members Mike Reed and Tim Bt~klwin arc coordinating efforts to gel the towu bnck to normal as soon a:. possible. Mr Heed said the NT Government Centre will be open on Monday and all in qu iries .Jblut any government service :.hould be dl ' reeled to this centre. Normally circulated in Darwin, Katherine, Tcnnat Creek, Adelaide River, Bathchelor, Emerald Springs, Pine Creek, Borroloola, Lajamanu, Kalkanngi, VRO, limber Creek and Mataranka. Ph 8972 1111 Fax8971 0120 SATURDAY, JANUARY 311998 VOL 171SSUE 3 DllWTZ under ... Katlzerine's main street from tlte air earlier !Jus week ' .. By DA Vt: L4RKTNG He said the restoration of ba nking :.en,ices has been identified as a priority. "We have a treasury ofiicer dedica ted to liaising with tllc A:-JZ, Westpac and Commonwealth banks with regards to es tablishing banking sen :Jces," Mr Reed said. "We may not be able to get all three available. but we hope to have at least one to provide banking services to Katherine resicjents. Arrangements "This .is a key requirement because we must have banks available to provide the financial a:.si:.t<~n<.:e that is available Water supply problems are beinG adctre~sed by the rower and Water Authority. "All the lines have to be cleaned out because dirt hilS got into the system," \llr Reed explained. "We will g radually be reintroducing supply as th e lines are clcilncd. J under~;tand people w ill be wanting to flush out their homes, but because of the dif ficulties in maintaining watersupplies and the expected increase in demand, careful use of water i~ encouraged. "All tap water should be boiled, includ ing (at) Ka therine East." under the natural disaster ar- Mr Reed said flood affec ted rangements. (see page 7) homes and businesses will "They have to ge t into their have to be assessed by an electr ical contrnctor bdon .. premises and assess the dam- . age ... I don' t know how long power 15 restored. tha t will take but if it looks "We have a particular COil like being to~ long we ;viii .. cern in relation to pc0plc recoru.ider rducating a mobile en~eriJ.'g their homes .1 nd banking serv1ce from Mel- swttclung on the puwer. bourne to Katherine." "Peop le sh\Hlld take <'X treme care and should avoid touching the electrical system." Electrical contractors have arrived in Katherine who will assess and repair damage to homes and bu:.ine:.ses. "These lOIIlrdctors will be pro, iding cer tification that tbe electrical system in each houst> is sui table," Mr Reed said. .. Before electricity is rect)nnected, the residence has to be cleared, checked and c:er ti-' fiE'd. "After people's homes have been cleaned, they can apply for an electrical contractor to assess their property at the 1'\0vernment centre. "People shouldn't attempt t-o rep:~ir an electrical system on their own or to have it re connected to tl1e electrical supply without checking at ' the government centre first. " Most schools have suffered s ub:.tantia l damage while others have been used as evacuation centres. This wiU dday the opening of schools, except the School of the Air, until ;~! leas t February9. "Spcdal arrangements arc being made for year 12 stu dents to commence, perhaps next week, so the)' don't lo~ vatuablc time," Mr l~eed saict. Details s hould be available from the government centre shortly. Damage Mr Reed said ronds had suffered significant damage. "There are :.evere problem~ on the Gorge Road, ne~ r Morns Road, and these wi ll be fixed as soon as possible. Emergency fooct s upplies will continue until shops can resume trading normally. Woolworths SA/NT m<tn"l'ier has b een in Darwin to assess the condi tion of the current store and looking at the possibility of establishing a temporary s tore in the olct YMCA, perhaps as e.1rly as the week. II The Eo:wtside supermarket and other :.hops in the comp lex are open for busines:.. ''Until food supply outlets are restored as noma!, the emergency food wiU be mamtained," lvlr Reed said. Dally garbage runs have -;t<t rted and ti-e Katherine fown Council is plannin& a road side pickup for larger items. "W~'ve eot a rubbii;h tip in Craw ford Street; mayor Mr rorscutt said. "When people have cleaned up the1r homes just pu !the rubbish outside and it will be picked up." He said the council offices wou ld be open nn Monday. Food or pcrishnbles should IJe p laced i11 whcclic bins whidt will be collected daily. Mr Reed said home owners ClWerE'd by flood insurance should check wi th their insurance LOrnpan y before removing fum1tu re. "AI the very least take an in ven tory of dnmagcc..l g<w.1ds," he advised.