Dear Mr
R,
Thank you for your correspondence
concerning Defence Housing Australia’s (DHA) development at Lee Point, NT.
I appreciate the time you
have taken to raise this matter.
DHA entered into an
agreement with the Northern Territory (NT) Government (through its then
Department of Lands, Planning and Environment) to enable the development of the
project to meet the critical need to provide housing for members of the
Australian Defence Force and their families.
In March 2019, DHA received
approval under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), inclusive of an Environmental Impact
Statement to identify all the mitigation measures to be met before, during and
after the development of Lee Point.
The project will be
delivered in-line with the Development Consent Authority approval and will meet
all agreed environmental commitments, safeguards and recommendations detailed
in the NT Environment Protection Authority assessment report.
I recently visited the site
with the Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling, and representatives of DHA. Together
with the Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP,
we are working hard to address concerns that have been raised.
The current approved plan
includes the preservation of over 31 hectares of the land for conservation,
with over 22 hectares being transferred to the Northern Territory Department of
Environment, Parks, and Water Security to expand the Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
A further 9 hectares will
remain as conservation land/protected under the Environmental Protection
Authority regulations.
DHA has agreed to vary the
conditions of the original approved plan to include:
- Modification of the original design footprint
to provide a 50-metre buffer around nearby Gouldian Finch habitat. This
land is in place around the waterhole where the Finches have been
observed. This will allow the Finch to roost and forage in a natural
environment that should allow it to flourish within the area. It will also
significantly improve the beauty of the area for the new residents and
other members of the community.
- The requirement for an Offset strategy to be
developed that will compensate for residual impacts to the Gouldian Finch.
These offsets will need to be identified before clearing takes place near
the waterhole. That means that the Gouldian Finch should be better off
overall.
- As you may be aware the Gouldian Finch has
been sighted as feeding in Gamba Grass which is an invasive species and a
Weed of National concern. The Gamba Grass will be cleared and replaced
with native grass species that are useful foraging habitat for the finch
but also benefit other native species.
- The original plan for the site meant that
access to Casuarina Beach had the potential to disturb migratory birds who
nest in the area. We have redesigned access points for Casuarina Beach to
avoid impacts to migratory species.
- The requirement for a
new Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP) to be developed that
will include measures to mitigate impacts to the Gouldian Finch and
migratory species during clearing.
DHA will not be able to
commence any clearing near the waterhole which the Finches are using until
Minister Plibersek has approved the new Offset Strategy and CEMP.
DHA has undertaken
extensive community consultation, with the project subject to an extensive
environmental review and consultation with several NT Government departments
and key community stakeholders.
This is a good example of
where a project can be redesigned to avoid the most adverse impacts on matters
of national environmental significance and result in a nature positive outcome.
In addition to community
consultation, DHA consulted with and sought approval from the Larrakia Nation
Aboriginal Corporation in accordance with both Federal and NT law prior to
seeking approval of this project.
Areas of cultural
significance were raised by the Larrakia custodians and identified as remaining
outside of the proposed development area.
DHA has also consulted the
Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority and confirmed that no registered sacred
sites are located on the land.
In November 2021, Richard
Fejo, Chairperson of the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation wrote to DHA to
confirm the Corporation’s support for the development.
It remains my focus on
ensuring that DHA continues to actively engage with the First Nations
custodians of Lee Point to ensure no sacred sites are disturbed.
Currently, DHA has paused
clearing and other preparatory works for a further 30 days and will not
re-commence stage 2 works within the development area until the report on areas
of cultural heritage has been addressed.
Thank you again for
expressing your concerns with this matter. I hope this information is of
assistance.
Kind regards,
Matt