DHA was in Darwin last week but declined to provide certainty around bungled Lee Point project

Defence Housing Australia’s senior management made the long trek from Canberra to Darwin last week, then headed back to the capital almost as quickly as they arrived.

Aerial photograph of Lee Point urban development in Darwin

Defence Housing Australia’s senior management made the long trek from Canberra to Darwin last week, then headed back to the capital almost as quickly as they arrived.

Declining an NT News interview request to explain when - if at all - work would resume on its bungled Lee Point residential development.

DHA also did not meet with key project stakeholder, the NT Government.

Two weeks after NT building industry chiefs derided DHA for failing the Northern Territory with the drawn-out Lee Point development, Treasurer and Logistics and Infrastructure Minister Bill Yan, who will have responsibility for finding the money for services to Lee Point if it goes ahead, said the organisation had not contacted him once since the CLP won government.

Defence Housing Australia have had no contact with Treasurer Bill Yan. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“I haven’t been made aware of any contact and they haven’t contacted me specifically,” Mr Yan told NT News.

“You would think that with the infrastructure requirements for a project like this, that there would be at least some consultation at some stage through the department, through to myself, because it’s going to require certain work by the NT Government for the project.

“Aside from anything else it will form part of that second entrance-way into Royal Darwin Hospital, which is part of the work we want to see happen into the future.

“A large housing release in that area for Defence would require infrastructure support from the NT Government including roads, power, water and sewerage connections.

“I know for some reason DHA put the project on the backburner dealing with whatever issues they had, but if they want to start to progress Lee Point I’d like to think they’d be reaching out to the Northern Territory government as to when and how they’re going to go about that.”

Mr Yan said aside from the additional skills constructing a 700-home project would deliver, it would also underpin a population boost.

DHA managing director Andrew Jaggers was in Darwin last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“We’ll have extra defence personnel staying here with their families who may take up other vacancies or jobs around town and extra kids going to school,” he said.

“It means a lot to the Territory as far as our economic development goes.”

Despite being signed-off by the Commonwealth and Territory governments and Defence in 2015, just 96 homes out of a planned for 700 have been built, the last of those in 2022.

DHA’s Darwin delegation contained four of its senior leaders; chairman Dr Robert Lang, managing director Andrew Jaggers, general manager service delivery Brett Jorgensen and head of land development James Wallace.

In addition to declining an opportunity to explain to Territorians why not a single home has been built since 2022, DHA’s management repeated its response: “in coming months”.

Aerial photograph of Lee Point urban development in Darwin

“Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has a permanent presence in Darwin, with a number of its staff based in the region,” the organisation said through a spokeswoman.

“Darwin staff and other DHA representatives have met this week as part of its standard business activities, including DHA housing inspections, and typical meetings in relation to projects and developments.

“Due to a short trip and tight schedule, there is no availability for an interview.

The Lee Point development update provided to the NT News on 10 February 2025 remains current.”

In an NT News article published February 19, Master Builders NT chief executive Damien Moriarty and Housing Industry Association’s Luis Espinoza criticised DHA for creating uncertainty and timidity around the project.