Netflix start Matt Wright facing fresh chopper charges as legal woes continue to mount

Territory TV star Matt Wright could face an eye-watering fine if found guilty of the latest charges heard in the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday.

Matt Wright was not required to appear in court on Tuesday after previously fronting up on other charges. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Embattled celebrity croc wrangler Matt Wright’s legal troubles continue to mount, with prosecutors now alleging the Netflix star breached the Planning Act through the use of his helicopter.

The case against Mr Wright was mentioned for the first time on Tuesday in the Darwin Local Court where he stands charged with breaching a planning scheme and contravening an enforcement notice.

Each offence attracts a maximum penalty of 500 penalty units or $92,500 per offence, as of July 1 this year.

Development Consent Authority prosecutor Jon Bortoli said the charges related to “essentially allegations of using the helicopter at the property” which had “previously been before NTCAT”.

Last year the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard Mr Wright and his wife Kaia had used their helicopters “as a means of transportation to and from” their Virginia property since 2017.

“My usage of a helicopter for personal and social use has not changed since we purchased our home in January 2017,” Mr Wright told the tribunal.

“Not dissimilar to how people use motor vehicles, I will fly in and out of our home in the morning and back in the evening.”

Matt Wright is facing new charges of breaching a planning scheme and contravening an enforcement notice. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

After receiving complaints about “an increase in the frequency of helicopter takeoffs and landings” in 2021, the DCA issued the couple with an enforcement notice, the tribunal heard.

“In short, the DCA did not accept either that the Wrights’ use of the land as a helicopter landing site was subsumed within the permitted use of the land; or that the Wrights had established that existing use applied,” NTCAT president Mark O’Reilly said.

The couple then sought a review of the DCA’s decision, claiming “the intensity (of helicopter use) has always been the same”, which Mr O’Reilly knocked back in October.

“I am satisfied that given the complaints and the requirement for consent under the 2020 scheme, there was a reasonable basis upon which to issue the enforcement notice,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mr Bortoli said after discussions with Mr Wright’s lawyer, he was seeking an adjournment by consent with a view to finalising the case.

“Essentially we’re in discussions to try and resolve the matters and the prospects are looking good,” he said.

The case returns to court on November 5 when Mr Wright will again be excused from appearing.