Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water fines Defence Housing $18,780 over Lee Point clearing

After 12 months of stalled development, Defence Housing Australia has been hit with a $18k fine for illegally clearing bushland at Lee Point.

Defence Housing Australia have been hit with a Federal fine after illegally clearing bushland at the controversial housing development at Lee Point.

The Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has confirmed it fined Defence Housing Australia $18,780 following an illegal clearing at Binybara, Lee Point in early May 2024.

DCCEEW said the fine was due to “clearing outside of stages 1A, 2 and 3 prior to having a revised Construction Environmental Management Plan approved”.

The penalty comes a year after Save Lee Point protesters clashed with construction workers and police for three days while attempting to stall the controversial 800-home development.

Police arrested up to a dozen Binybara Camp members who attempted to block further land clearing at Lee Point on Wednesday, May 1. Picture: Zizi Averill

At the time DHA has full approval to clear early stages of the 131 hectare development area, however footage obtained by the NT News appeared to show the bulldozers had cleared more than six hectares outside the approved zones.

Internal correspondence between Defence Housing Australia, the offices of Defence Minister Richard Marles and assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite later revealed DHA was aware it was still missing approvals after the bulldozers started in May.

Despite DHA instructing the contractor not to clear outside the approved zones, the unapproved area was completely bulldozed by 10am on the second day of works.

Defence Housing Australia stopped work at Lee Point following the allegations of illegal land clearing.

In November the Development Consent Authority confirmed it would not prosecute or take any further action against DHA, stating that the breach had “ceased” and the site was now compliant with the NT Planning Act.

For the past 12 months DHA has paused all works at the site amid the Federal and Territory investigations into the illegal clearing allegations.

The finalisation of the Federal investigation could allow the developer to restart works, with DHA senior management visiting Darwin earlier this month saying it intended to commence civil works for stages two and three in “the coming months”.

Environment Centre NT executive Director Kirsty Howey at Binybara, Lee Point. Picture: Rebecca Parker

The fine has also sparked renewed calls from traditional owners, environmentalists and community organisations to the government to revoke the developer’s approvals.

On Monday, Environment Centre NT executive Director Kirsty Howey said the fines were a “vindication” and confirmation of the illegal clearing at the site.

“DHA broke the law and must not be rewarded,” Ms Howey said.

“(But) this fine is little more than a slap on the wrist and shows how profoundly broken our environmental laws are.“

Larrakia leader Lorraine Williams called on the new Environment Minister Murray Watt to revoke DHA’s approvals to stop development at Binybara, Lee Point. Picture: Rebecca Parker

Larrakia leader Lorraine Williams called on the new Environment Minister Murray Watt to revoke DHA’s approvals “to stop any further cultural and ecological destruction at Lee Point”.

“Watching precious Lee Point being bulldozed last year was completely heartbreaking given the importance of this place to Larrakia people who have cared for it for thousands of years,” Ms Williams said.