NT Department of Planning, Lands, and Infrastructure to fight charges of sacred site destruction in 2025

A government department is gearing up to fight charges it destroyed a sacred site in the Red Centre, with a hearing date set. Find out when.

Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A Northern Territory government department is set to defend itself against allegations it damaged a sacred site in the Red Centre – but not before lawyers file all the necessary documents.

Almost two years after the Department of Planning, Lands, and Infrastructure was charged with damaging a sacred site in the Arlparra, a hearing date has been set for the matter, and lawyers representing the prosecution and defence have a November deadline to file a statement of agreed facts and other documents.

An aerial view of Arlparra.

Judge Sarah McNamara issued the November deadline at the Alice Springs Local Court on Monday, September 16, with Bridgette Vanderwolf representing the department and John Bortoli appearing on behalf of the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority and the Commonwealth.

Neither objected to the deadline.

The department is facing three charges: carrying out work on a sacred site; causing damage to a sacred site; and works causing damage to a sacred site.

The charges stem from the department allegedly removing a sacred ghost gum in 2021, during road widening works in Arlparra, 280km northeast of Alice Springs.

The five-day hearing is set to start February 3, 2025, at the Alice Springs Local Court.