Territory Property Group Managing Director Ross Anthony Finocchiaro faces three-day court hearing
A father and daughter allegedly had to jump out of the way of a speeding LandCruiser driven by a prominent Darwin businessman amid a long-running mining rights clash.
The Chief Minister’s relative allegedly narrowly missed running down a gold-prospecting father and his daughter amid a long-running mineral rights fight over his rural block.
The Territory Property Group and Darwin Central Hotel managing director Ross Anthony Finocchiaro is facing a three-day court hearing, charged with interfering with authorised activities after he allegedly drove at speed toward a mining contractor and his daughter in June 2023.
Mr Finocchiaro — a relative of the CLP Chief Minister — has allegedly been locked in a long-running battle with the holder of the mineral lease over his Batchelor property, Korab Resources.
The Korab Resources website said the Batchelor property was part of its Rum Jungle exploratory project, and had the potential to host gold, tin, copper, lead, zinc, phosphate, rare earths, nickel, cobalt and banded iron formations.
The Darwin Local Court has previously heard allegations that Mr Finocchiaro told the company in 2018 it would “never develop” the mine on his land as the minerals “belong to him”.
It was alleged that the 67-year-old told Korab that he would “find a way to cancel their (mineral) leases and apply for his own lease”.
However it is understood that land access agreements were eventually formed between the company and landowner.
Court documents released to the NT News alleged Mr Finocchiaro was given two-days notice from Korab that it would be sending a contractor to collect mineral samples on June 24, 2023.
Mining contractor Dominic Boyle and his daughter, Olivia, intended to collect 100kg of rock samples from Bachelor, but shortly after their arrival they were allegedly approached by a man claiming to be the caretaker.
Mr Boyle alleged he showed Mr Finocchiaro a letter showing he was authorised to be there.
However, as the father and daughter headed back to their vehicle, it was alleged that Mr Finocchiaro jumped into a Silver Toyota Land Cruiser and started speeding towards them.
Ms Boyle allegedly screamed out: “He’s going to run us over”.
It was alleged she had to move out of the way as the vehicle sped past her.
Mr Finocchiaro allegedly then stopped right in front of the Boyle’s car, blocking their exit and got out and started taking photographs of the father and daughter with his phone.
Court documents alleged Mr Finocchiaro continued to “tailgate” and follow the Boyles after they left his property.
It was alleged he shadowed their car out to Litchfield Outback Resort and all the way to the Stuart Highway — repeatedly stopping either directly in front or right behind the father and daughter.
It was alleged these actions were an attempt by Mr Finocchiaro to interfere with Korab’s authorised activities, stopping Mr Boyle from obtaining and removing further mineral samples for analysis.
The court has previously heard that Mr Finocchiaro’s “state of mind” was at the centre of the legal debate, and it was argued he did not know whether the father and daughter were authorised to be on his property.
He has indicated that he would fight the charge against him, and on Monday Darwin Local
The court heard that seven witnesses were expected to be called during the three-day hearing from April 26, 2026.
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Originally published as Territory Property Group Managing Director Ross Anthony Finocchiaro faces three-day court hearing
