The Defence Housing Authority (DHA) has purchased 152.6 hectares of land at Muirhead in Darwin with a view of future residential development, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald announced today.
“The decision by the DHA to purchase land at Muirhead from the Department of Defence is part of a strategy to ensure that the future housing needs of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in Darwin are met,” Senator Macdonald said.

“There is an increasing demand for modern housing in Darwin to support ADF members and their families, and Muirhead could provide the perfect opportunity for DHA to meet that demand,” he said. “Muirhead could be a fantastic location for residential development. The land is adjacent to the new suburb of Lyons, which is currently under construction.”

The use of the land for residential development is subject to the normal planning and parliamentary approval requirements, and DHA has a commitment to involve the Darwin community through a comprehensive public consultation program, as it has done with the Lyons development. Muirhead has the potential to deliver over 800 new residential allotments, a portion of which will be made available to members of the Darwin community. DHA will work with the Northern Territory Government to obtain the necessary rezoning of the site.

Senator Macdonald has also announced the successful tenderer for a $4.5 million landscaping contract for Stage 1 of the Lyons development. “A local consortium comprising landscaping company Gimbells Pty Ltd and the Larrakia Development Corporation has been awarded the $4.5 million contract,” he said. “The close involvement of Larrakia in the design and development of Lyons is an important and ongoing aspect of the Lyons development,” Senator Macdonald said.

I also acknowledge the continuing support by Member for Solomon David Tollner MP, for all activities by DHA for Defence in Darwin. Stage one of the Lyons development is expected to be completed by the end of this year.