Chan by-election - candidate survey on Lee Point

City of Darwin Chan by-election – May 2026

Where candidates stand on Lee Point

If elected, will you support:

Q1. A moratorium on the current DHA housing development at Lee Point until the NT Planning Commission has completed a comprehensive Area Plan for the whole of Lee Point.

Q2. A Senate inquiry into the Defence Housing Australia (DHA) Lee Point project.

Candidates	Yes / No / Undecided	Comments (~50 words or less)
Manik GOWDA	UNDECIDED	I would prefer to remain undecided at this stage while I continue listening to community feedback and better understanding the broader considerations surrounding the Lee Point project.
Nick KIRLEW	YES	As your candidate, I stand with our community to Save Lee Point. We must halt the clearing of Darwin’s last wildlife corridor, home to hundreds of bird species. I support a moratorium to protect vital habitat for migratory shorebirds and preserve our natural environment. Let’s build at Berrimah.
Annette GILLANDERS	Q1 – YES Q2 – UNDECIDED	Q1. This is what I would support if elected. I’d listen carefully to the opinions of the electorate and advocate strongly for a planning process that reflects the genuine wishes of the community. Q2. A Senate inquiry sits with the federal parliament rather than council, but I’m supportive of any process that brings genuine scrutiny and transparency to decisions affecting our community. I’d want to understand the specific scope and aims of an inquiry before formally backing one, which is why I’ve marked this as undecided rather than yes or no.
Clarence CJ MCCARTHY-GROGAN	YES	Q1 – Absolutely I will, there is no doubt from the feedback I’ve received over the last couple of weeks and even when I ran previously. There hasn’t been proper consultation throughout this whole project. Q2 – The motion has passed the Darwin City Council and I look forward to a positive response from the Senate to the request of an inquiry.
Mirella FEJO	YES	No comment
LENNY	NO RESPONSE
Shiva PANCHALINGAM	YES	No comment
Steve DOHERTY	NO RESPONSE

NOTES

Candidates were emailed questions and provided with information from the Save lee Point website: Relocating the Lee Point DHA housing project and City of Darwin calls for a Senate inquiry.

Responses were: YES, NO, UNDECIDED or if no response was received in writing – NO RESPONSE. Lenny and Steve Doherty did not respond to emails or messages. Comments were optional and limited to ~50 words.

Chan by-election – candidate survey on Lee Point

City of Darwin Chan by-election – May 2026

Where candidates stand on Lee Point

I would prefer to remain undecided at this stage while I continue listening to community feedback and better understanding the broader considerations surrounding the Lee Point project.

As your candidate, I stand with our community to Save Lee Point. We must halt the clearing of Darwin’s last wildlife corridor, home to hundreds of bird species. I support a moratorium to protect vital habitat for migratory shorebirds and preserve our natural environment. Let’s build at Berrimah.

Q1. This is what I would support if elected. I’d listen carefully to the opinions of the electorate and advocate strongly for a planning process that reflects the genuine wishes of the community.

Q1 – Absolutely I will, there is no doubt from the feedback I’ve received over the last couple of weeks and even when I ran previously. There hasn’t been proper consultation throughout this whole project.

Q2 – The motion has passed the Darwin City Council and I look forward to a positive response from the Senate to the request of an inquiry.

No comment

No comment

Candidates were emailed questions and provided with information from the Save lee Point website: Relocating the Lee Point DHA housing project and City of Darwin calls for a Senate inquiry.

Responses were: YES, NO, UNDECIDED or if no response was received in writing – NO RESPONSE. Lenny and Steve Doherty did not respond to emails or messages. Comments were optional and limited to ~50 words.

Authorised by: Ian Redmond, Friends of Lee Point, Darwin, NT – contact 0427 796 470