{
	"type": "rich",
	"version": "1.0",
	"provider_name": "Action Network",
	"provider_url": "https://actionnetwork.org",
	
	"html": "<link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/mt-letter-230730?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-mt-letter-230730' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div>",
	"author_name": "PLan: the Planning Action Network Inc",
	"author_url": "https://actionnetwork.org/groups/plan-the-planning-action-network-inc",
	"title": "Urgent request to halt the Defence Housing Australia development at Lee Point, Darwin",
	"thumbnail_url": "https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/groups/default_facebook_images/000/172/816/original/Lee_Point-North-1mb.jpg?1619250903",
	"description": "I write to you to request that you abandon Defence Housing Australia’s (‘DHA’) planned development at Lee Point (Binybara) in Darwin. Larrakia traditional owners and the broader Darwin community have spoken, we do not want DHA to develop Lee Point. We have been calling for this project to be stopped ever since we first became aware of the immense and irreversible cultural and environmental devastation it would cause. The DHA housing project will harm Lee Point and Darwin. This “harm” relates to social, cultural, heritage, environmental, economic and governance matters and are outlined in more detail in the reference - Planning for Lee Point As you are probably aware the Australian government only uses offsets as a last resort after avoidance and mitigation measures have been exhausted. Investigating avoidance options, in this instance other housing locations, should have been the first step in planning a housing development at Lee Point. DHA developed the Lee Point Area Plan in consultation with the NT Government in 2014 bypassing the normal Area Plan planning process undertaken by the (independent) NT Planning Commission. This government (2012-16) is remembered for several appalling decisions. It was effectively disbanded in 2016 after the worst defeat of a sitting government in the Territory’s history leaving behind the ill-conceived Lee Point Area Plan as one of its legacies. I have never heard of a report detailing a “comprehensive consultation on Lee Point” with the Darwin community nor a cost-benefit report by DHA that looks at different housing location options. This is despite the taxpayer underwriting the project to a tune of $400M and suitable locations being available for housing. Given the planning process above, it would be a surprise to me if these reports exist; however, if they do exist, I would be most grateful if you could send me a copy. The lack of democratic process and transparency surrounding the Lee Point project has persisted for many years and this needs to change. It’s time the Darwin community had their say. Yours Sincerely",
	"url": "https://actionnetwork.org/letters/mt-letter-230730"
}