Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has welcomed the recommencement of works on Stage 2 of the former Defence site at Lee Point to provide much needed homes for local residents, Defence members and their families in Darwin.

The project delivers a significant number of residential housing lots for the Darwin market along with a new primary school area, 14.25 hectares of open park space, active recreation areas and a community centre area.

Since the project’s commencement, DHA has obtained all necessary approvals to undertake the development, including planning, environmental and cultural heritage approvals.

The current works allow for Stage 2 of the project to progress before the wet season, marking an important step forward after a pause of nearly two years while environmental and cultural matters were addressed.

Within the site, 33.9 hectares of land will be set aside for conservation purposes, 22 hectares of which will be transferred to the NT Government Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security. A 50-metre-wide wildlife corridor will also be established along the northern boundary of the site to help preserve the Gouldian Finch.

Last month, the Minister for the Environment and Water determined that she was not satisfied that the specified area is a significant Aboriginal area in accordance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (Cth), effectively allowing continuation of Stages 2 and 3 of the project.

The project will proceed in stages to its estimated completion in 2033 and make a significant contribution to the provision of houses in Darwin for members of the Australian Defence Force and their families to support Defence capability.