The Lee Point DHA master plan shows at least 211 homes will be built for defence personnel. Image: DHA.
Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has been fined for unlawfully clearing land at the site of a new housing development planned for Darwin.
The controversial development at Lee Point on the city’s northern outskirts will see a 132-hectare residential complex containing at least 211 homes for the Top End’s growing defence community built between the Royal Darwin Hospital and the Lee Point Resort complex.
But the unauthorised clearing of trees in the environmentally sensitive area has seen DHA fined $18,780.
The clearing of land was resumed in May 2024 after the project was shut down by protests from environmentalists and the local First Nations Larrakia people. The area is home to rare bird species including the Gouldian finch and is also a cultural heritage site of significance.
After a year-long investigation into claims of unauthorised clearing, the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) issued the fine to DHA for clearing land in breach of its environmental approvals.
“The infringement was issued following DHA clearing a small area between 30 April and 2 May 2024 that was not in compliance with its Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 conditions at the time,” a DHA statement said.
“DHA worked constructively with DCCEEW during the investigation to provide the information required for the department to make its decision, and it accepts DCCEEW’s findings.
”This infringement notice does not affect the validity of DHA’s environmental approvals for the Lee Point development and, as DHA has paid the infringement, the matter is now closed.
“DHA takes compliance matters seriously and is committed to ensuring strict adherence with approvals across all development projects.”
But Larrakia leaders and environmental and community groups have called on new Environment Minister Murray Watt to revoke DHA’s development approval for Lee Point.
In a statement, the Australian Conservation Foundation said the area held exceptional cultural and ecological significance beloved by Territorians, and was home to more than 270 bird species.
“In 2022, hundreds of endangered Gouldian finches made the site their home, mobilising a powerful community campaign that gained national prominence,” it said.
“Lee Point is also home to black-footed tree rats, northern brushtail possums, and an internationally significant population of migratory shorebirds, all listed as threatened under federal environmental law.”
The foundation’s lead investigator Annica Schoo added: “This is one of Australia’s most controversial housing projects, yet was able to breach the conditions of its environmental approval and destroy threatened species habitat at Lee Point.
“This is another reminder that Australia’s national nature laws are broken and need urgent attention from Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt.”
Larrakia Danggalaba leader Lorraine Williams said: “Watching precious Lee Point being bulldozed last year was completely heartbreaking given the importance of this place to Larrakia people, who have cared for it for thousands of years.
“I’m calling on Minister Murray Watt to immediately revoke DHA’s approval to stop any further cultural and ecological destruction at Lee Point.”
Work on the Lee Point development has been suspended three times since 2022 – the first time for 12 months while then-Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek investigated its impact on the Gouldian finch population, the second time when Larrakia elders challenged the development under federal cultural laws, and again in 2024 after the initial allegations of unlawful bulldozing in the area.
