Defence Housing Australia has revised the controversial Lee Point masterplan, scaling back the scope of development and increasing conservation areas after strong community opposition and discussions with traditional owners.

The revised masterplan sets aside over one-third of the 132-hectare site for biodiversity conservation and reserves half of Lee Point for conservation and community uses. In addition, two AFL-size football fields with high-quality, year-round playing surfaces will be constructed with floodlights to improve usability and accessibility.

It is now proposed that more than 70ha of conservation land under management will accommodate the black-footed tree rat, and DHA had also secured 500ha of land near Litchfield National Park to support Gouldian finch habitat and conservation that would offset habitat destruction at Lee Point.

“The updated Masterplan responds to the feedback we have received and strengthens the environmental and community outcomes planned for Lee Point,” DHA managing director Andrew Jaggers said.

DHA’s revised Lee Point masterplan.

“More than one-third of the site will be retained for biodiversity conservation, with conservation areas, open space and community use taking up half of the Lee Point site.”

Mr Jaggers said planned connections between homes, parkland and the beach have been improved, and DHA has worked with the NT Government to secure additional conservation land east of Muirhead North.

Five new homes are under construction within the project’s completed first stage.

DHA ultimately wants to build 800 homes, including 200 for the Australian Defence Force and their families, at Lee Point, alongside established DHA projects in the suburbs of Muirhead and Lyons.

But the project has come up against strong community opposition.

The revised masterplan does not go far enough to protect threatened species and doesn’t resolve key environmental risks, the Environment Centre NT said Friday.

“DHA is paying lip service to environmental protection and has already demonstrated that they cannot be trusted following their conviction for illegal land clearing,” ECNT chief executive Bree Ahrens said.

She pointed to flood lights causing problems for turtles’ breeding cycles, the possibility of the fertiliser and chemicals used for the proposed ovals washing into nearby waterways and called the plans to recreate gouldian finch habitat near Litchfield a “tick-the-box exercise” with few details.

Deputy Labor Leader Ed Smelt, who previously quietly lobbied the Federal Government for a moratorium, said while the revised plans were an improvement, Labor still supports a moratorium until a new area plan is developed despite previously supporting the development as originally planned.

“Community members have felt let down by a lack of engagement on this project by DHA and every government over the past 10 years,” Mr Smelt said.

“That’s why I asked DHA to hold information sessions with the community on any future changes to the masterplan. DHA has now committed to engaging with the community on the new masterplan before the end of the year.

“We need to learn from this long and painful process – the people of Darwin care deeply about how our city is developed. They deserve a strong voice in development decisions.”

The proposed new plan will be subject to development permit approvals, but Mr Jaggers said development was moving ahead.

Last month, DHA initiated a new phase by inviting tenders for civil and landscape works needed for the project’s next stage with a Request for Proposal at Casuarina Coastal Reserve for rehabilitation works, as well as a Request for Tender via AusTender for civil and landscape works in the Muirhead North stage of the development.

The current tender aims to attract qualified contractors, with assessment criteria favouring local and majority-owned Indigenous businesses, DHA said.

“The release of the civil and landscape works tender for Muirhead North is an important step in progressing the development and preparing the site for future housing and community amenity,” Mr Jaggers said.

The scope covers works for roads, drainage, electrical infrastructure, parks, reserves, and preparations for future residential development on the east side of Lee Point Road.

DHA also said these activities will support environmental rehabilitation, enhance community access, and enable the staged delivery of the Lee Point development.

“We remain committed to delivering much-needed housing for Darwin and Australian Defence Force families, while protecting important environmental and cultural values,” Mr Jaggers said.

DHA said it will also provide opportunities for the community to learn about and discuss the masterplan changes in the coming weeks.