Published on Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 2:12:50 PM
Katherine Town Council does not support Woolworths’ recent decision to reduce its trading hours from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Many Katherine residents, visiting contractors, and tourists rely on Woolworths’ extended evening hours to shop after work or upon arrival in Katherine. For those travelling long distances on the Stuart and Victoria Highways, reaching Katherine late in the day and being able to access a supermarket offering fresh and affordable groceries until 9:00 p.m. is both practical and important.
There is no nearby alternative. The next closest fresh food supermarket of comparable range and affordability is more than three hours away to the north, and nearly six hours to the west or south. Reducing access to groceries in a regional hub like Katherine impacts our residents, the wider region, and the travelling public who rely on our town's services.
This decision does nothing to address the root cause of the challenges Woolworths is seeking to manage - the security issues linked to antisocial behaviour from alcohol misuse. Limiting access to everyday goods is not a solution. Shifting the focus away from the underlying issues allows those problems to persist.
Instead of reducing its hours, I call on Woolworths to join the Council in lobbying the Northern Territory and Australian governments for more meaningful action. This includes increased security support at bottle shops, responsible controls on alcohol availability, and expanded investment in alcohol addiction services for Katherine.
Council remains committed to working collaboratively with all levels of government, service providers, and the private sector to create a safer, more supported community. We ask Woolworths to be part of that solution.
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