Habitat Destruction at Lee Point Requires Immediate Action

Habitat Destruction at Lee Point Requires Immediate Action

DARWIN, Australia: Bird conservation leader BirdLife Australia, is calling on Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to act immediately in response to allegations of unlawful vegetation clearing by Defence Housing Australia (DHA) at Binybara (Lee Point) near Darwin.

BirdLife Australia opposes the Lee Point Master-planned urban development project due to the negative impacts it will have on the habitat of threatened birds, including several migratory shorebirds.

The new allegations of unlawful clearing, aired on ABC TV’s 7.30 program on Monday evening, refer to the clearing of vegetation at the site between April 30th and May 2nd this year, potentially in breach of conditions required under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC).

Ministerial approval of the project was granted with specific conditions intended to mitigate risks to threatened species, which also includes the endangered Gouldian Finch. These requirements included a revised Construction Environmental Management Plan and a Gouldian Finch Strategy and Offset Plan, but it’s alleged that neither were approved prior to the removal of vegetation beginning in sections of the site. It is also alleged that the project’s shorebird monitoring program has not been adequately conducted.

“This project’s approval conditions were meant to reduce some of the harm the project will have on the local environment and birdlife. Instead, we understand those key plans weren’t even approved before they sent in the bulldozers,” said Kate Millar, BirdLife Australia CEO.

“We also understand the required shorebird monitoring has been woefully inadequate which completely undermines the ability for this project to minimise impacts to threatened migratory birds.”

“This debacle demonstrates how important it is that compliance with the EPBC is properly enforced. We’ve written to the minister today asking her to immediately revoke approval of this development and to impose the required penalties.”

BirdLife Australia Media Enquiries: Please contact James Johnson on 0423 659 324 or at media@birdlife.org.au