Save Lee Point: Protect Darwin Wildlife Corridor
City of Darwin
City of Darwin has put into place three strategies for a cool, green and clean city. The 2030 Greening Darwin Strategy supports the enhancement of biodiversity and protection of biodiversity corridors. Darwin’s most important biodiversity corridor and last remaining wildlife corridor (called here Darwin Wildlife Corridor), runs 27km from Casuarina Coastal Reserve through Lee Point to Shoal Bay.
Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has plans to provide 740 lots, 200 of which are for defence at Lee Point. Over half of the (700) old-growth trees at Lee Point will be lost along with one third of the old-growth trees in the (27km) Darwin Wildlife Corridor.
The result will be a severe impact on people’s enjoyment of Lee Point, loss of critical habitat for the endangered Black-footed Tree-rat, endangered Gouldian Finch and other wildlife that use the connected savanna habitat of the Darwin Wildlife Corridor. In addition, housing thousands of people at Lee Point will significantly increase disruption to seven threatened shorebird species - Lee Point has internationally significant migratory shorebird sites.
The first stage of the DHA housing project has produced high-cost lots, no affordable housing, increased traffic congestion and is threatening endangered wildlife and cultural heritage.
City of Darwin Council (on behalf of the Darwin ratepayer) manage most of the road, drain and park assets in Darwin. Council does not have to accept a new asset if it believes this is not in the best interest of the ratepayer. The Darwin Waterfront project is one example of council not accepting assets.
We believe City of Darwin should not be accepting assets from a project that has such poor social, cultural, environmental and economic outcomes for the community.
Further information is at: relocating and rescoping the Lee Point defence housing project.
Petition supported by: Planning Action Network (PLan) - Birdlife Top End - Biodiversity Watch - NT Field Naturalists - Darwin Children's Clinic - Environment Centre of the NT (ECNT) - Larrakia: Danggalaba Traditional Owners - Landcare NT - Friends of Lee Point
Sponsored by
To:
City of Darwin
From:
[Your Name]
Save Lee Point: Protect Darwin Wildlife Corridor
Dear Councillors,
I am writing to express my deep concern about the Defence Housing Australia (DHA) housing project at Lee Point. Clearing the Darwin Wildlife Corridor at Lee Point will irreversibly damage one of the most important natural areas in Darwin and promote species extinction.
Larrakia leaders, ecological experts, environmental organisations and the wider Darwin community have consistently called for this project to be relocated to a suitable site.
We live in a time of interlinked crises: climate change, biodiversity loss and housing affordability. The Lee Point housing project does nothing to address:
• Climate resilience: Darwin is getting hotter. Our urban forest is critical for shade, cooling and liveability.
• Biodiversity loss: Clearing over half of Lee Point’s old-growth trees threatens endangered species such as the Black-footed Tree-rat and Gouldian Finch. In addition, housing thousands of people at Lee Point will significantly increase disruption to seven threatened shorebird species - Lee Point has internationally significant migratory shorebird sites.
• Housing affordability: Lee Point offers no affordable housing. The lots are high-cost, remote from defence jobs, schools and frequent public transport.
Suitable housing locations exist adjacent to the Stuart Highway, such as Berrimah and Holtze, which are closer to services, defence jobs and frequent public transport.
Building subdivisions in the Darwin Wildlife Corridor is in direct conflict with the 2030 Greening Darwin Strategy and will make future management more difficult and expensive.
I strongly urge City of Darwin not to accept any further subdivisions at Lee Point.
Yours sincerely