Matt, Kaia Wright granted time to prepare argument in chopper planning dispute

The neighbours of a Territory celebrity couple have alleged their helicopter flights were in breach of the planning act.

Embattled Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright and wife Kaia had a matter before the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has been granted extra time to prove he was allowed to use his choppers “like a motor car” over a quiet rural community just outside of Darwin.

The Netflix star and his Insta-famous wife Kaia Wright have been locked in a planning dispute with the Develop­ment Consent Authority over their Virginia home for the past six months.

Two complaints from the celebrity couple’s neighbours alleged they used their home as a helicopter launch pad, with multiple flights recorded over a four-day period.

The Netflix star and his Insta-famous wife Kaia Wright have been locked in a planning dispute with the Develop­ment Consent Authority over their Virginia home for the past six months

In a Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal stoush, the DCA has alleged the Wrights were using their home as an aircraft landing site without consent while zoned as a rural living area.

The DCA alleged the Wrights, by continuing to fly following legislative changes in 2019, had contravened the Planning Act.

Matt Wright's lawyer David De Silva with consultant and advisor Sam Nixon leave NTCAT.. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Their lawyer David De Silva has previously argued the couple had existing rights to fly their choppers, telling the tribunal in July: “Matt Wright uses the helicopter like a motor car for transport getting himself to and from work”.

On Thursday, Mr De Silva requested additional time to make final submissions on this argument.

Tribunal president Mark O’Reilly was told a key criteria to proving existing rights – the intensity of use – had been inadvertently overlooked.

Mr O’Reilly said the Wrights had seven days to add to their submissions, with the DCA given another week to respond.