A $10 million newly-built flood levee in Katherine’s north side will prevent overflows and protect the town from a one in a 20-year flood event, similar to the 2006 flood, the NT Government has said.

The $10 million embankment, which is part of the government’s Katherine Flood Mitigation Project, runs from the northern side of Knotts Crossing Resort and Caravan Park, near the old Katherine Airstrip, along the eastern side of Katherine town to the Stuart Highway.

Earlier flood modelling has shown that the levee banks and upgraded drainage provides the best defence against flood impact for smaller amounts of flooding, the government said.

Work on the new levee— funded by both the Australian and Territory governments—included a combination of earth embarkments with a footpath link, concrete walls and temporary barriers for road crossings, which is expected to prevent overflows from the Lockheed Drain during a one in 20-year flood like the 2006 occurrence.

The tender for the second phase of works—with the federal government committing $9.4 million—will be in Katherine South, and will be released early next year, the government said.

“No levee will ever be 100 per cent flood-proof and we continue to remind residents they should be prepared for extreme events every Wet,” Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Eva Lawler said, adding that “residents in Katherine North can rest a little easier this wet season now that the suburb’s levee is completed.”

The flood levee project was completed by Black Cat Civil Pty Ltd, which was awarded the contract in November last year.

The government said the Katherine North and South flood mitigation embankment and wall levees form one part of a suite of initiatives to improve Katherine’s flood resilience.

The initiative included the new fire and ambulance stations, and the headworks to support the release of flood-free commercial land aimed at supporting economic growth in Katherine East.

“Investing in this project will not only support jobs and local business, but it will also protect residents, their properties and their businesses into the future from Katherine’s more frequent flooding events,” Ms Lawler said.