What to do next?

Sign the petition : this new petition calls on the (two) shareholder ministers of DHA to intervene, stop the defence housing project at Lee Point and relocate it to a more suitable area.

Read the February newsletter

and recent our papers:

Lee Point – a special part of Darwin

Darwin’s large woodland trees – a preliminary study

The encouraging news is that Hon Tanya Plibersek MP (Minister for Environment and Water) would like to see the Gouldian Finch population increase in Darwin and supports a proper scientific evaluation* of the area (includes Lee Point housing area). A summary of Gouldian Finches sightings in Darwin is here.

*Gouldians use tree hollows for breeding; we assume that the scientific evaluation will include tree hollow inspections during the breeding season (Apr – June). 

Lee Point corridor needs protecting if Gouldian Finches and other threatened species are going to increase in number.

The destruction of Lee Point Corridor by government is not OK. Darwin needs sustainable development not an urban sprawl.

Stage 1 (out of a total of 8) has already been destroyed. Planning for Lee Point explains why we need a comprehensive Area Plan for the whole of Lee Point by the NT Planning Commission before any significant development should be allowed. Government is subsidising an urban sprawl at Lee Point that destroys some of the last intact tropical habitat in Darwin and compromises the tourism industry. Who is benefiting from this? The Lee Point housing development is controversial... Read more

BACKGROUND

Lee Point is an irreplaceable asset that contains over half of Casuarina Coastal Reserve (CCR). CCR attracts over one million visits each year because of its natural beauty and rich biodiversity. Friends of Lee Point (FLP) is a non-profit Darwin community based group seeking to protect the Lee Point environment and our quality of life.

The Lee Point Area Plan approved in 2015 (without NT Planning Commission involvement) allows housing at Lee Point. This Plan is focused on the disused Defence land. Defence Housing Australia (DHA) which is wholly owned by the Australian Government has proposed a development (see below) to house thousands of people at Lee Point. 

Housing at Lee Point is unnecessary and will lead to:

• severe impact on people’s enjoyment of Lee Point,
• traffic congestion, 
• increased travel time and car dependency,
• increased CO2 emissions,
• considerable loss of habitat and wildlife, and
• significant costs for the taxpayer.

In short, it leads to an urban sprawl ; refer to INFO page.