Community opposition and legal challenges have stopped work on DHA’s controversial 132-hectare development for years, but now the bulldozers could be back within weeks.
For more than four years, the community has fought to protect Lee Point from DHA’s bulldozers.
And because of that extraordinary community effort, the precious savanna woodlands at Lee Point/ Binybara are still standing.
There have been rallies and petitions, multiple legal challenges, Larrakia Elders, leaders and families fighting to protect Country, enforcement action over DHA’s illegal clearing, over 300 scientists speaking out and tens of thousands of Australians demanding that governments protect one of Darwin’s most special places.
It has been a long and complicated fight. As we reach another critical juncture for Lee Point, we wanted to bring you up to speed on how we got here – and what could happen next.
How we got here
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September 2021: Despite overwhelming community opposition, clearing commences at Muirhead North.
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2022: More than 100 endangered Gouldian finches arrive at Lee Point, showing how important this habitat is. Thousands of bird watchers amass in Darwin to see the spectacle.
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June 2023: The federal government acknowledges the development will likely have a significant impact on the endangered Gouldian finch but allows it to proceed with additional conditions.
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July 2023: The community-led Binybara Camp is established. More than 300 scientists call for Lee Point to be protected. Clearing restarts at 2CRU and the community shows up in the hundreds to protest.
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July 2023: Senior Larrakia Danggalaba Traditional Owner Tibby Quall, represented by Environmental Justice Australia, seeks emergency protection for Lee Point under federal Aboriginal cultural heritage laws. DHA pauses clearing while the application is considered.
- Late 2023: Led by Larrakia people and supported by 350 Australia, the Protect Larrakia Country campaign is formed.
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March 2024: The federal Environment Minister refuses the cultural heritage protection application.
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April–May 2024: Bulldozers return. Community members raise serious concerns about where clearing is occurring and whether DHA is complying with its environmental approval.
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May 2024: DHA illegally clears land, is subject to a federal investigation, enforcement proceedings and issued an $18,780 fine.
- June 2024: Charles Darwin University adjunct professor Amanda Lilleyman launches legal action against the NTG’s Development Consent Authority in the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, arguing it erred in finding DHA had not breached its permit conditions.
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January 2025: Tibby Quall launches a separate challenge in the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal after the NT Heritage Council approves the removal of Larrakia cultural objects from Lee Point.
- May 2025: Friends of Lee Point launches a challenge in the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal against the NTG’s Development Consent Authority after the DCA made the decision in Nov 2024 not to further investigate a breach of the Lee Point development permit.
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June 2025: The Tribunal delivers a landmark decision, finding that Mr Quall is an owner of the cultural objects under the NT Heritage Act and identifying serious deficiencies in the consultation process. DHA is prevented from undertaking major works on Lot 4873 while the proceedings continue.
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July 2025: Lorraine Williams wins NAIDOC Caring for Country award.
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August 2025: The federal government approves DHA’s overarching Black-footed Tree-rat Offset Plan. Individual offset projects are still required to satisfy the conditions of DHA’s environmental approval.
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March 2026: Territory Labor admit they ‘got it wrong’ on Lee Point and join calls for a moratorium on clearing and a broader planning process for Lee Point – adding to pressure for the federal government to reconsider the development.
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April 2026: After reconsidering its earlier decision, the NT Heritage Council again approves DHA’s proposal to remove Larrakia cultural objects. The matter returns to the Tribunal.
- June 2026: Larrakia traditional owners Lorraine and Stephanie Williams invite the community to a Larrakia truth-telling session and weaving workshop at Lee Point. More than 100 people gathered in solidarity to protect and heal Lee Point/Binybara.
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July 2026: Mr Tibby Quall wins NAIDOC Elder of the Year award.
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August 2026: The fight enters another critical phase as cultural heritage proceedings and the remaining environmental and offset requirements move closer to resolution.
So where does that leave Lee Point?
For four years, at every turn, DHA’s plans have exposed problem after problem: impacts to threatened species grossly underestimated, Larrakia Cultural Heritage inadequately considered, consultation found legally flawed, illegal clearing of land by DHA, federal investigations, enforcement action and a fine.
Now, in a last-ditch attempt, offsets are being used to justify the bulldozing of habitat for endangered species.
Community action and extraordinary Larrakia leadership has repeatedly forced governments and DHA to confront these problems that should have been properly considered before any approval was granted.
But when the extraordinary importance of Binybara for Gouldian Finches became obvious, the answer wasn’t to protect their habitat. New conditions were simply added to the development approval.
When Larrakia Traditional Owners fought to protect their cultural heritage, the answer wasn’t to listen, acknowledge the procedural failings and consider a more appropriate location for development. Another approval process followed.
When DHA illegally cleared outside the approved area, there was only a slap on the wrist and an $18,780 infringement notice.
And now, as DHA works through its remaining requirements, the future of this beautiful place that the community has fought so hard to protect is once again at risk.