Bulldozers in Darwin begin destroying habitat of hundreds of bird species as Lee Point/Binybara construction begins

Darwin residents who arrived at Lee Point on Tuesday were ‘devastated’ to see woodland habitat being cleared for a defence housing development, one community representative said. Photograph: Tobias Aakesson

The destruction of woodland habitat for hundreds of bird species, including the endangered Gouldian finch, has commenced at a popular Darwin site, prompting conservationists, crossbench MPs and residents to condemn the federal government’s failure to protect the area from a defence housing development.

As bulldozers moved into Lee Point/Binybara, which has been the focus of a long community campaign, independent and Greens MPs said the clearing was an example of Australia’s failed environmental protections and the need for urgent reform.