Program Director, Wendy Pech travelled to Katherine on Friday 1 February with Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN NT) and Developing the North – Northern Australia Development and Trade to learn more about the region and businesses and attended the Defence Community Organisation Welcome Day on Saturday 2 February.
Katherine is the hub of a vibrant and diverse economic region called the Big Rivers region. The Big Rivers region covers 326,327 Km2, which is around 25% of the Northern Territory. The population of the region is 21,203 with only 49% of the region’s residents living in Katherine and the rest in the surrounding towns and communities. The region has a broad-based economy with agriculture, beef cattle export, mining, tourism, Defence and government service delivery as the main industries.
The Big Rivers region is experiencing a period of economic growth, driving collaborations and creative ventures that are addressing infrastructure gaps and entrepreneurial opportunities. Significant projects such as Katherine’s CBD revitalisation, Australian Defence construction at Tindal Air Force Base, Bradshaw and Delamere upgrades, the Katherine Logistics and Agribusiness Hub, multi-million dollar investment into nearby Nitmiluk National Park, onshore gas exploration and development of the Roper Valley Iron Ore and Mount Todd Gold Mine projects are well underway.
The Darwin Innovation Hub is expanding our presence and we are looking forward to being more involved in the Big Rivers region.
For more information on the Big Rivers region, please visit Regional Development Australia, Big Rivers
