An investigation into the bulldozing operation at Lee Point by NT authorities did not lead to charges against DHA. This is despite breaches in the NT Planning Act. FLP have asked NTCAT to review the decision.
Fig 1. Lee Point peninsula, red outline shows extent of DHA housing with Stage 1, 2 and 3 cleared.
Based on a NT News newspaper article – 26 Nov 2024, DHA knew they did not have all approvals but cleared Lee Point Stages 2 and 3 anyway. Clearing took place over three days, from 30 April to 2 May 2024.
Excerpt from NT News article on 26 Nov 2024
“Internal correspondence between DHA, the offices of Defence Minister Richard Marles and Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite revealed DHA was aware it was still missing approvals after the bulldozers started.
Ministerial Briefing notes said that on the second day of clearing (May 1) DHA realised all government planning permissions were not in place.
In an internal memo to Mr Thistlethwaite, DHA confirmed it knew “some permissions were not in place” for Stage 3 on May 1.”
To clear land without all the approvals in place is a breach of the NT Planning Act. However, the NT Development Consent Authority (DCA) ruled not to take action to prosecute DHA on the breach.
A NTCAT court hearing has been scheduled for 20 Feb 2026 to review the DCA decision. FLP first lodged a complaint on the breach 14 May 2024.