comments by Friends of Lee Point – updated 10 June 2026
This post describes the main erosion problems at 2CRU and comments on the planning application PA 2026/0187 by Defence Housing Australia (DHA) aimed at fixing those problems, refer: https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planning-notices-online/notices#/index
Erosion problems on the western side of 2CRU
Defence removed vegetation many years ago from the western side of Lee Point – 2CRU (also known as Lot 4873 or Lyons North). This has led to large erosion gullies forming on defence land with sediment being carried into the mangroves – refer Offset erosion and sediment.
The erosion gullies have formed on land currently zoned Conservation (CN) and vested with Defence Housing Australia (DHA). DHA aim to transfer this land to the NT Government once erosion problems have been addressed. The NT Government is expected to include the land into the adjacent national park (known as Casuarina Coastal Reserve or CCR).
Fig 1. The main 2CRU erosion gullies are located southwest of Stage 3.
Fig 2. Four erosion gullies on the south-western side – excerpt from 2018 DHA Masterplan plus sedimentation note. The oval is the location of the proposed detention basin.
Fig 3. The largest erosion gully southwest of Stage 3.
PA 2026/0187 – DHA planning application for fixing erosion problems at 2CRU
DHA have lodged a planning application PA 2026/0187, hereafter called Application. For details refer: https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/planning-notices-online/notices#/index
Erosion gully problems are to be addressed by building an upstream detention basin plus stabilising downstream eroded areas i.e. erosion gullies. The detention basin temporarily stores stormwater to reduce peak flows.
The erosion gully work involves filling, topsoiling and revegetating with appropriate native species. The fill and topsoil are to be sourced from the upstream detention basin.
The detention basin/erosion work is to be carried out as part of the 2CRU subdivision work during the dry season.
The detention basin is a separable part of the works and no details were provided in the Application.
Friends of Lee Point comments on PA 2026/0187
The scope of erosion works; filling, topsoiling and revegetation of the erosion gullies with native species is supported in principle, subject to necessary approvals and consents.
The erosion work is in a Conservation (CN) zone on the Lee Point Area Plan and assumed there will be a focus on conservation.
Friends of Lee Point cannot support the detention basin work. There is a lack of detail on the work. The detention basin is the source of fill and topsoil for the erosion gully works and a critical part of the overall works. It should not be considered in isolation to the erosion works.
The detention basin is in a Future Development (FD) zone on the 2015 Lee Point Area Plan.
Detention basin work
The current detention basin appears to clear ~ 2 ha of intact habitat (probably more area than is being restored). The value of having an intact habitat in the detention basin area is that it requires little or no maintenance – a long-term saving for government.
Fig 4. Example of a detention basin – detention basin in Muirhead (~4 ha).
The proposed detention basin work is adjacent to a national park and offset for the endangered Black-footed Tree-rat (BFTR). The BFTR offset area (21.5 ha) is regarded as inadequate (by experts) and adjoining habitat needs to be conserved wherever possible.
Details on the proposed detention basin need to be included in the Application.
Lee Point Area Plan and zoning
A further complication to the proposed works is that the Lee Point Area Plan (~500 ha) is not supported by the community. The 2015 Lee Point Area Plan was not created by an independent body i.e. the NT Planning Commission and was a result of inadequate community consultation ie. the planning process was flawed.
City of Darwin, Territory Labor and others have been calling for a moratorium on Lee Point works and a new Area Plan for Lee Point. Many community groups (including Friends of Lee Point) believe that most of Lee Point peninsula should be zoned CN (to focus on conservation).
Given the detention basin is adjacent to a national park and offset (see above) the retention basin land should be in a CN zone.
Ideally the land between CCR and houses, refer Fig 2, (~4ha) would be rezoned by the Commission from FD to CN while a new Lee Point Area Plan (~500ha) is completed.
Rezoning the detention basin land from Future Development (FD) to Conservation (CN) will improve community acceptance of the work and outcomes for the national park.
Preliminary design
Having the detention basin in CN zone means balancing habitat loss (clearing) against reducing peak flows. A preliminary design would help find this balance and better explain clearing works and the overall project to the community.
Additional fill and topsoil (if needed) for the erosion gullies could be sourced from the nearby 2CRU stockpiled soil mounds (less than 1 km away).
A preliminary design on the detention basin needs to be undertaken.
Cultural
No mention is made in the Application whether Larrakia (traditional owners of Darwin) have been consulted on the proposed works. Previously, Larrakia have objected to works at Lee Point due to cultural reasons.
Free Prior and Informed Consent needs to be sought from Larrakia traditional owners.
Summary
The planning application PA 2026/0187 to address the 2CRU erosion problems is not supported.
Additional work is required. The following work is recommended:
- A preliminary design for the detention basin is undertaken to suit a conservation (CN) zone taking into account the adjacent Black-footed Tree-rat offset and national park
- Free Prior and Informed Consent is sought from Larrakia traditional owners for the works, and
- The preliminary design for the erosion and detention basin (for a future CN zone) is presented in one document.