National

Two arrested as bulldozers move in on contested site

By AAP Newswire

Apr 30, 2024

A protest sign at Lee Point on the outskirts of Darwin — Defence Housing Australia plans to develop 800 homes and other facilities at Lee Point. -AAP Image

Two people have been arrested in Darwin after land-clearing resumed at an environmentally and culturally sensitive site.

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Mounted police, security guards and three bulldozers moved in on Lee Point in the Northern Territory on Tuesday morning to fell dozens of trees after failed efforts to have the site protected from development under environmental and cultural laws.

A 70-year-old teacher was reportedly being treated for injuries at Palmerston Hospital after being arrested by police, with a young man also in custody after locking himself to a bulldozer.

Community present at the site told AAP the bulldozers had cleared at least several hectares of the 100-hectare site, with videos posted to X showing trees felled and police carrying protesters away from the site gates.

The area - known as Binybara to its Larrakia traditional owners - is home to vulnerable and endangered birds including the Gouldian finch, great knot and greater sand plover.

Defence Housing Australia plans to develop 800 homes, businesses and community facilities in the seaside area north of Darwin.

The government agency voluntarily stopped work at Lee Point in August 2023 to allow a cultural heritage application to be assessed after members of the Larrakia nation described the area as culturally significant and asked that it be preserved and protected.

The application was rejected in March despite pleas to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to act to protect the numerous threatened species in the area.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press