Over the last 80 years, Lee Point has suffered a major loss of old-growth trees. Immediate action is needed to reverse this decline and protect endangered wildlife.
Old-growth trees are essential – They contain most of the tree hollows that 40% of mammals and 20% of birds rely on for shelter and breeding. Large eucalypts eg. Stringbarks with a diameter of 35cm or more are described as old-growth trees. Typically, old-growth trees take longer than a century to reach this diameter.
Old growth tree numbers for Lee Point since 1944 are shown below. The early tree numbers are interpolated from Friends of Lee Point 2023-24 tree survey using aerial photographs and local knowledge.
Fig 1. 1944 (over 1000 trees) – Lee Point has nearly all of its old-growth trees.
Fig 2. 1963 (~820 trees) – Major land clearing of 2CRU by defence plus mining for sand and gravel during 1944-63.
Fig 3. 1979 (~720 trees) – Land clearing of Muirhead North and Resort/golf course for mining (sand and gravel) during 1963-79.
The vast majority of old-growth trees survived the 1974 Cyclone Tracy despite being stripped of branches and leaves. The impact of Tracy can be seen here.
Fig 4. 2005 (~690 trees) – Land clearing for resort during 1979-2005. White outline is the clearing boundary for the future DHA housing project.
Fig 5. 2020 (~670 trees) – Land clearing for golf course fairways during 2005-2020.
Old growth trees are shown as yellow pins. The ~670 tree number was based on the 2023-24 tree survey plus an estimate of Stage 1 trees (south-east section was cleared in 2021).
Fig 6. 2025 (~580 trees) – Land clearing of DHA Stages 1, 2 & 3 during 2020 to 2025.
Gamba Grass fires produced some tree losses (number unknown).
Assessment of areas
Based on above photos, 2023-24 tree survey (refer 2020 photo) and local knowledge.
The poorest sites for old-growth trees were:
- Golf course – most of the site is poorly drained
- Northern Lee Point – features shallow soil
The best sites for old-growth trees (has highest density of yellow pins) included east and west of Lee Point Road. Deep loam soils were a feature of these sites.
Fig 7. Old-growth trees on Lee Point Road looking north – Apr 2020
A 2ha patch on the east of Lee Point Road contained ~60 old-growth trees (30 trees per ha) – the highest density site recorded in the tree survey.
Note: The tree survey measured and recorded approx 2400 old-growth trees in 900 ha across Darwin.
Future of Lee Point old-growth trees and wildlife
Fig 8. 2025 map with 2023-24 tree survey.
In 2020, the orange section (DHA housing project) contained 380 out of 670 of the old-growth trees on the Lee Point peninsula.
2030 (~290 or ~580 old-growth trees)
The lower number (290) is based on the the orange section (DHA housing project) being cleared and no change to management of Gamba Grass or fires. Old-growth trees are particulary vulnerable to fire.
Gamba Grass is now common in all woodland areas at Lee Point except Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
The upper tree number (580) represents no further clearing and good management of soil erosion and Gamba Grass/fires.
2050 (less than 100 or ~580 old-growth trees)
The lower number (less than 100) is based on the the orange section being cleared and no change to the management of Gamba Grass or fires. The long term impact from repeated Gamba Grass fires could be devastating.
The upper tree number (580) represents no further clearing and good management of soil erosion and Gamba Grass/fires. Even with good management, getting a significant increase in old-growth tree numbers at Lee Point before 2100 is unlikely because of their slow growth rate.
Impact on wildlife
Charles Darwin University believes that Lee Point is vital habitat for the endangered Black-footed Tree-rat species.
Fig 9. Black-footed tree-rats are among the species scientists found at Lee Point. (Supplied: Sam Banks) – source ABC
Both the endangered Black-footed Tree-rat (BFTR) and Gouldian Finch have been recorded in the orange section, refer Fig 8. These species rely heavily on old-growth trees (tree hollows) for breeding and shelter.
Clearing the “orange” zone would critically fragment vital habitat, further jeopardizing the survival of the endangered Black-footed Tree Rat and Gouldian Finch. To avoid this impact, the Lee Point housing project must be relocated. Potential alternative sites, along the Stuart Highway, are outlined in the document, Relocating and rescoping the Lee Point defence housing project.
Recommendations
Recommendations to protect Lee Point’s old-growth trees and endangered wildlife (Black-footed Tree-rat and Gouldian Finch) are:
- Relocate the DHA housing project to the Stuart Highway
- Manage Gamba Grass and fire risks near old-growth tree sites, and
- Implement these protections as soon as possible.
For further information, refer:
Historical aerial photos – website
Lee Point – protecting critical habitat and Darwins last wildlife corridor report