Greetings,
This monthly newsletter (No. 72) includes: DHA land application, old trees, Senate inquiry, quiz, plants-fungi-wildlife.
1.0 DHA is seeking an offset at Lee Point to clear Muirhead North
Fig 1. Offset Rally at Aldenham Road, Muirhead – 2 July 2026.
Fig 2. Lee Point showing old growth trees (yellow pins), offsets (blue), DHA area to be cleared (orange).
Public comment is now open regarding DHA’s application to acquire Lee Point crown land for an offset. Your input matters—please ensure your comments are submitted by Friday, 17 July. You can review the submission from FLP and PLan here.
Selling Lee Point land to DHA for an offset is a bad idea…listen to why.
Rival bids for crown land – Lee Point/Binybara – Larrakia Traditional Owners have made bids for crown land surrounding the Lee Point housing project following DHA’s land application…read more
Build at Berrimah – the Lee Point housing project remains one of the most controversial and unpopular housing projects in Darwin’s history refer Build at Berrimah not Lee Point.
2.0 Loss of old-growth trees
Old-growth trees are important because they contain most of the tree hollows that 40% of mammals and 20% of birds rely on for shelter and breeding.
Over the last 80 years, the number of old-growth trees at Lee Point declined from over 1000 trees in 1944 to ~580 trees in 2025…read more.
Loss of an ancient tree
Fig 3. “Big Daddy” at Lee Point in 2023 and after the June 2026 fires.
Between 2023 and 2024, FLP documented approx 2,400 old-growth trees across Darwin.
Among these was a massive Stringybark with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 100cm, affectionately dubbed “Big Daddy”. This tree was believed to be near 500 years old.
A Gamba Grass fire killed Big Daddy in late June 2026. Old-growth trees are particulary vulnerable to fire.
3.0 Call for Senate inquiry
Senate Inquiry – City of Darwin has sent a letter to Federal Ministers requesting a Senate inquiry into the Lee Point housing project …read more.
Sign the SENATE PETITION to help make this happen.
The time for Labor to act is now – Territory Labor recently supported a moratorium and a new Area Plan for Lee Point by the NT Planning Commission. Send a Letter to Ed Smelt MLA.
4.0 Quiz
Lee Point had nearly all of its old-growth trees in 1944.
Fig 4. Lee Point in 1944
In terms of old-growth trees lost at Lee Point; rank the periods below, from most trees lost to the least. Answers at the end.
- Prior to 1963
- Cylclone Tracy in 1974
- Land clearing by DHA during 2021-25
5.0 Plants-fungi-wildlife
Images from Lee Point July 2026.
Fig 5. Fires occurred late Jun to early July at Lee Point.
Gamba Grass in the Lee Point Biodiversity Corridor made the fires hotter and harder to control – up to 11 fire trucks attended the fires.
Fig 6. Red-flowering Kurrajong
Fig 7. Fruit from fungi – mushroom woody pore.
Favourite food: dead organic matter
Fig 8. Caper Gull Butterfly
Favourite food: nectar
Fig 9. Red Cotton Staining Bug (Dysdercus spp.)
Favourite food: seeds
Fig 10. Praying Mantis with ant
Favourite food: insects (anything they can catch)
Fig 11. Darter on Lee Point Dam
Favourite food: fish
Wilderness Walks
Despite the recent fires, Wilderness Walks have been recording 30-45 bird species, refer ebird for latest sightings. Please check Friends of Lee Point Facebook for walk times.
Enjoy the dry season
Answer to Quiz
Periods ranked from greatest loss to least loss of old-growth trees are:
-
Prior to 1963
-
Land clearing by DHA during 2021-25
-
Cyclone Tracy in 1974
Fig 12. The period prior to 1963 had the greatest old-growth tree loss.
This POST has more aerial photos and information on old-growth trees.