Save Lee Point and Prosecute DHA

On 30 July the ABC’s 7:30 Report revealed that Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has allegedly breached the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) – clearing a portion of land at Lee Point on 6 May 2024 without crucial approvals in place.

Larrakia leaders, ecological experts, environmental organisations and the broader community are now urgently calling for DHA to be investigated, prosecuted and for their approval to be revoked under the EPBC Act. Development is not unconditional – if DHA cannot adhere to the permit conditions then they do not get to develop.

It is time for both the NT and Federal Governments to listen to the cultural and ecological experts and save Lee Point!

Dear Federal Environment Minister Plibersek, 
The NT's Development Consent Authority recently responded to our complaint that a breach occurred at Lee Point when Defence Housing Australia cleared an area of land at Lee Point earlier this year without crucial approvals in place. After investigating the land, they have decided that because the breach has now ceased, no further actions will be taken. In the face of this NT regulatory failure, we are now calling on you to prosecute DHA under federal environment laws.
This deeply unpopular development proposal at Lee Point has been mired in controversy since the very beginning. Larrakia Danngalaba Traditional Owners have fought exhaustively to protect this culturally significant place, the broader community has staunchly defended the much-loved bird watching site and scientific experts have come out insisting that the impacts on threatened species are simply too great and cannot be offset. 
Now with these allegations of illegal clearing in breach of permit conditions, DHA must be held accountable for their actions. 
Minister Plibersek, I call on you to: 
1.	Investigate and prosecute DHA 
2.	Revoke the Lee Point permit 
3.	Fix our broken nature laws – overhaul the EPBC Act now!
Development is not unconditional – if DHA cannot abide by the EPBC Act permit conditions then they do not get to develop. 
You can still save Larrakia cultural heritage at Binybara/ Lee Point. You can still save federally listed threatened species such as the Gouldian Finch, black-footed tree rats, northern brushtail possums, and the home of approximately 270 species of birds.
Now is the time to listen to the cultural and ecological experts, stop this unnecessary destruction once and for all – save Lee Point! 
Yours sincerely,

I would like to BCC myself