The UN looks set to knock back Australia’s bid to add a large area of ancient rock art in WA’s north to the World Heritage list, citing concerns about emissions degrading the Aboriginal carvings near Karratha.
The petroglyphs on the Burrup Peninsula, known as the Murujuga Cultural Landscape, are approximately 40,000 years old and the former Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek began the process to nominate them to the list in February 2023.
But that bid now appears in doubt.
Professor Katy Evans, Professor Ben Mullins and MAC Senior Rock Art Ranger Glen Aubrey examine rocks at Murujuga. (Supplied: Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation)
In a draft decision, the World Heritage Committee has referred the nomination back to the Australian government to allow it to “prevent any further industrial development adjacent to, and within, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape”.
Sacred Aboriginal rock art sits in close proximity to a major gas plant. (ABC News: Charlie McLean)
In referring the decision back to the government, the committee said it would “allow it to … ensure the total removal of degrading acidic emissions, currently impacting upon the petroglyphs of the Murujuga [area]”.
The draft decision comes as Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt weighs up whether to approve a 45-year licence extension of Woodside’s North West Shelf LNG facilities on the Burrup Peninsula.
He has until Saturday to make his decision.
‘Outstanding universal value’
The UN recommended the Australian government inform it of the intention to undertake or authorise all major projects which may affect the “outstanding universal value” of the property.
‘Outstanding universal value’ is the UN’s definition of something so significant it transcends national boundaries and should be protected for present and future generations of all humanity.
The proposed World Heritage decision will be discussed and potentially formalised at a UNESCO meeting in Paris in July.
Murujuga elders and scientists have been trying to determine whether industrial development on the Burrup Peninsula over the past 60 years is degrading ancient rock art.
On Friday, the Western Australian government released the long-awaited results from its ongoing Rock Art Monitoring Program, but scientists have expressed “grave concern” about “unacceptable interference” in the study.
The study found rocks located closer to industry have suffered greater degradation than those further away.
In referring the nomination bid back to the Australian government, the committee said this would allow it to “finalise the ongoing studies on the impact of the industries on the petroglyphs and on the nominated property”.
It recommended the Australian government consider “undertaking measures to ensure that interlinked cultural and natural values are fully protected, both in the terrestrial and marine areas”.
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