Murujuga gets World Heritage listing after 30-year campaign, but has it come too late?
The traditional custodians of Murujuga, in Western Australia's Pilbara region, have fought to have their country's physical and spiritual significance recognised and protected for decades.
"Nearly 30 years of education of this culture on this country has come to fruition," Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation director Vince Adams said.
Belinda Churnside, also a director of the corporation, said the listing was a "testament to the true dedication" and resilience of Aboriginal people.
But scientist and rock art researcher John Black fears the damage to the site has already been done.
"An enormous amount has been lost," he said.
"When you drive into Murujuga now … it looks like an industrial complex, not a sacred, World Heritage-listed gallery."
Dr Black hoped the islands off Murujuga, which have been included in the World Heritage area, would now be protected.
"There is so much on the outer islands that have lovely petroglyphs that need to be protected, and that will happen [now]."
Mr Adams acknowledged much had already been lost to industrial development at Murujuga.
He said elders in the early-2000s were unhappy about an expanding industry presence and decided a World Heritage bid was the best way to safeguard the rock art's future.
In the years since approvals have been granted for two more liquid natural gas trains, two fertiliser plants, and a provisional approval to extend the North West Shelf gas project to 2070.
"We can't stop them — we've tried. We've had people protest … still it carries on," Mr Adams said.
He saw the listing as a bargaining chip that Murujuga custodians could use.
"This is the tip of the iceberg for us," the Yindjibarndi man said.
Michelle Adams, who was a cultural advisor to the World Heritage application, said the listing provided more security than what the government could offer.
"We know that Murujuga World Heritage is a threat to industry, and so it should be," she said.
"It's deep and it's beautiful and it has to be respected to the highest degree."
Ahead of the Paris committee meeting this week the nomination was in serious doubt.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which advises the committee, had recommended knocking back the bid due to concerns about the impact of industry emissions.
It was only at the eleventh hour that federal Environment Minister Murray Watt secured an amendment that saw the bid succeed.
"In the end, what persuaded the committee was both the scientific evidence that was put forward, which disputed some of the claims that were being made, but also the genuine passion from the traditional owners to see this World Heritage listing be secured," Mr Watt said in Paris.
The amendment included softened language regarding the prevention of further industrial development.
Wording was changed from "recommends" to "encourages" in relation to a variety of protections and studies at the area.
Raelene Cooper, advocate for Save our Songlines, described the amendments as "ludicrous" and said Australia should have accepted the ICOMOS recommendations.
"At the end of the day, we're looking for the most protections out there," she said.
WA Greens MLC Sophie McNeill said the amendment "watered down" the legitimate concerns of the ICOMOS.
"We are deeply concerned the rock art now doesn't have as many protections as the experts think it should have," she said.
"That's why we're calling on the Cook and Albanese governments to roll back that approval of the North West Shelf extension."
Mr Watt said the federal government would ensure Murujuga was protected now and for future generations.
The government agreed to update UNESCO with a report on the implementation of the amendment's recommendations by the end of 2027.
WA Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourne said the state government would do its part.
"[The WA government] will now implement the strategic management framework and establish the World Heritage property, ensuring the ongoing protection of this significant landscape which has been recognised today," he said.
Woodside congratulated the traditional custodians of Murujuga on the listing and said it had been a proud supporter of the nomination and assessment process.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Fears heritage-listed rock art at risk from gas project
More than a million pieces of ancient rock art have secured World Heritage status in a bittersweet listing for environmentalists and traditional custodians fearful nearby industrial activity is damaging the engravings. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday after intense lobbying by the federal government. "Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape," Environment Minister Murray Watt said while visiting the organisation's headquarters in Paris. The federal environment minister was accompanied by representatives from the Western Australian government and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. Murujuga contains the world's largest, densest and most diverse collection of Indigenous rock art engravings - known as petroglyphs. Some are estimated to be more than 50,000 years old. They depict animals, plants and human figures and are visible due to the colour and contrast between the removed varnish layer and the underlying brighter weathered rind of the host rocks. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, were degrading the art. The peninsula in northwest WA near Karratha is home to two gas plants, a fertiliser plant and iron ore and salt export facilities. Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper, who was at the UNESCO meeting, welcomed the World Heritage listing but criticised the removal of recommended protections, including halting industry expansion. "Today, Australia rewrote the World Heritage listing in the interests of the gas industry," she said. Environmentalists were also concerned the Woodside project extension could cause further damage. "The world is now watching," Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The onus is on the Australian government to make sure the values recognised by UNESCO are not jeopardised by ongoing industrial pollution." WA Greens Fossil Fuels spokesperson Sophie McNeill called on the state and federal governments to reverse the draft approval for the North West Shelf extension. "It's absolutely disgraceful that Labor put in so much effort to get those protections removed," she told AAP. Australia has 21 properties on the World Heritage list, which includes the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO added several other sites to its list, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates. More than a million pieces of ancient rock art have secured World Heritage status in a bittersweet listing for environmentalists and traditional custodians fearful nearby industrial activity is damaging the engravings. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday after intense lobbying by the federal government. "Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape," Environment Minister Murray Watt said while visiting the organisation's headquarters in Paris. The federal environment minister was accompanied by representatives from the Western Australian government and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. Murujuga contains the world's largest, densest and most diverse collection of Indigenous rock art engravings - known as petroglyphs. Some are estimated to be more than 50,000 years old. They depict animals, plants and human figures and are visible due to the colour and contrast between the removed varnish layer and the underlying brighter weathered rind of the host rocks. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, were degrading the art. The peninsula in northwest WA near Karratha is home to two gas plants, a fertiliser plant and iron ore and salt export facilities. Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper, who was at the UNESCO meeting, welcomed the World Heritage listing but criticised the removal of recommended protections, including halting industry expansion. "Today, Australia rewrote the World Heritage listing in the interests of the gas industry," she said. Environmentalists were also concerned the Woodside project extension could cause further damage. "The world is now watching," Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The onus is on the Australian government to make sure the values recognised by UNESCO are not jeopardised by ongoing industrial pollution." WA Greens Fossil Fuels spokesperson Sophie McNeill called on the state and federal governments to reverse the draft approval for the North West Shelf extension. "It's absolutely disgraceful that Labor put in so much effort to get those protections removed," she told AAP. Australia has 21 properties on the World Heritage list, which includes the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO added several other sites to its list, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates. More than a million pieces of ancient rock art have secured World Heritage status in a bittersweet listing for environmentalists and traditional custodians fearful nearby industrial activity is damaging the engravings. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday after intense lobbying by the federal government. "Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape," Environment Minister Murray Watt said while visiting the organisation's headquarters in Paris. The federal environment minister was accompanied by representatives from the Western Australian government and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. Murujuga contains the world's largest, densest and most diverse collection of Indigenous rock art engravings - known as petroglyphs. Some are estimated to be more than 50,000 years old. They depict animals, plants and human figures and are visible due to the colour and contrast between the removed varnish layer and the underlying brighter weathered rind of the host rocks. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, were degrading the art. The peninsula in northwest WA near Karratha is home to two gas plants, a fertiliser plant and iron ore and salt export facilities. Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper, who was at the UNESCO meeting, welcomed the World Heritage listing but criticised the removal of recommended protections, including halting industry expansion. "Today, Australia rewrote the World Heritage listing in the interests of the gas industry," she said. Environmentalists were also concerned the Woodside project extension could cause further damage. "The world is now watching," Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The onus is on the Australian government to make sure the values recognised by UNESCO are not jeopardised by ongoing industrial pollution." WA Greens Fossil Fuels spokesperson Sophie McNeill called on the state and federal governments to reverse the draft approval for the North West Shelf extension. "It's absolutely disgraceful that Labor put in so much effort to get those protections removed," she told AAP. Australia has 21 properties on the World Heritage list, which includes the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO added several other sites to its list, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates. More than a million pieces of ancient rock art have secured World Heritage status in a bittersweet listing for environmentalists and traditional custodians fearful nearby industrial activity is damaging the engravings. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday after intense lobbying by the federal government. "Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape," Environment Minister Murray Watt said while visiting the organisation's headquarters in Paris. The federal environment minister was accompanied by representatives from the Western Australian government and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation. Murujuga contains the world's largest, densest and most diverse collection of Indigenous rock art engravings - known as petroglyphs. Some are estimated to be more than 50,000 years old. They depict animals, plants and human figures and are visible due to the colour and contrast between the removed varnish layer and the underlying brighter weathered rind of the host rocks. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO for World Heritage listing in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, were degrading the art. The peninsula in northwest WA near Karratha is home to two gas plants, a fertiliser plant and iron ore and salt export facilities. Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper, who was at the UNESCO meeting, welcomed the World Heritage listing but criticised the removal of recommended protections, including halting industry expansion. "Today, Australia rewrote the World Heritage listing in the interests of the gas industry," she said. Environmentalists were also concerned the Woodside project extension could cause further damage. "The world is now watching," Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The onus is on the Australian government to make sure the values recognised by UNESCO are not jeopardised by ongoing industrial pollution." WA Greens Fossil Fuels spokesperson Sophie McNeill called on the state and federal governments to reverse the draft approval for the North West Shelf extension. "It's absolutely disgraceful that Labor put in so much effort to get those protections removed," she told AAP. Australia has 21 properties on the World Heritage list, which includes the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO added several other sites to its list, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates.
SBS Australia
3 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Gas plant critics warn 'world is now watching' after Murujuga gets World Heritage listing
Environmentalists fear the extension of a gas project could jeopardise the future of an ancient Indigenous rock art collection after it was listed as a World Heritage site. The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia was listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a heritage site on Friday after intense lobbying by the federal government. "For more than 50,000 years, the Ngarda-Ngarli people have protected and managed this significant land and seascape — and today, I am proud to announce that Murujuga will receive another level of protection via the World Heritage system," Environment Minister Murray Watt said while visiting the organisation's headquarters in Paris. "Achieving World Heritage status ensures stronger protections under Australian legislation and will allow the world to celebrate this unique cultural landscape," Watt added. Murujuga contains the world's largest, densest and most diverse collection of rock art engravings — known as petroglyphs — and some are estimated to be more than 50,000 years old. They depict animals, plants and human figures, and are visible due to the colour and contrast between the removed varnish layer and the underlying brighter weathered rind of the host rocks. The site was previously put forward to UNESCO in 2023 but Australia's application was referred back in May. UNESCO recommended state and federal governments address concerns that nearby acid emissions, including those from Woodside's Burrup gas hub, were degrading the art. The North West Shelf gas project is seen with a petroglyph of a turtle at Murujuga Cultural Landscape in Burrup Peninsula, Western Australia. Source: Supplied / Save Our Songlines / Conservation Council of Western Australia The peninsula in northwest WA near Karratha is home to two gas plants, a fertiliser plant and iron ore and salt export facilities. While environmentalists welcomed the heritage listing, they warned that the Woodside project extension could cause further damage. "The world is now watching," Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanassy said. "The onus is on the Australian government to make sure the values recognised by UNESCO are not jeopardised by ongoing industrial pollution. If the federal government is serious about protecting Murujuga and making sure it is not moved to an "in danger" list, Senator Watt should reject the gas hub's proposed expansion," O'Shanassy added. Mardathoonera woman and Murujuga traditional custodian Raelene Cooper, who was at the UNESCO meeting, said she welcomed the global recognition of Murujuga but cautioned that industry could still harm the rock art site . "This is a momentous day for our old people and our future generations, to have Murujuga's outstanding universal heritage values recognised by the world," she said. "Meanwhile, fertiliser plants are still being built around our sacred sites and polluting gas plants will emit toxic acid on our rock art for another 50 years. "We will continue to fight for protection for this very special place, and the world is now aware of what we are up against." Watt said World Heritage nomination "had the free, prior and informed consent of the five language groups who all come together to care for Murujuga today". Woodside said the listing was "well-deserved global recognition of the petroglyphs and the unique living cultural values of Murujuga" to Australia and the world. "Woodside has been a proud supporter of the World Heritage nomination and assessment process. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and Traditional Custodians on the continued protection and management of this globally significant area," the company said in a statement sent to SBS News. Greens Leader Larissa Waters joined the chorus of advocate voices in urging Senator Watt to cancel the approval for the North West Shelf project. "UNESCO had warned that Woodside's gas plant threatened the longevity of the rock art prior to the listing, but Minister Watt successfully lobbied other nations when he should have simply rejected Woodside's climate bomb extension in the first place," she said. Woodside has estimated that keeping the North-West Shelf operating until 2070 could lead to emissions of up to 4.3 billion tons tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO 2 -e), the majority of which will come from exported fossil fuel products. That's over nine times Australia's total annual emissions, which currently sit around 440.2 million tonnes CO 2 -e. Senator Waters added that world heritage laws should be bolstered to better protect listed sites. Australia has 21 properties on the World Heritage list, which includes the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO added several other sites to its list, including the Xixia Imperial Tombs in China and the Faya Palaeolandscape in the United Arab Emirates.
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Murujuga gets World Heritage listing after 30-year campaign, but has it come too late?
Another Australian site has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, but among the celebrations are fears that the decision has come too late. The traditional custodians of Murujuga, in Western Australia's Pilbara region, have fought to have their country's physical and spiritual significance recognised and protected for decades. "Nearly 30 years of education of this culture on this country has come to fruition," Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation director Vince Adams said. Belinda Churnside, also a director of the corporation, said the listing was a "testament to the true dedication" and resilience of Aboriginal people. But scientist and rock art researcher John Black fears the damage to the site has already been done. "An enormous amount has been lost," he said. "When you drive into Murujuga now … it looks like an industrial complex, not a sacred, World Heritage-listed gallery." Dr Black hoped the islands off Murujuga, which have been included in the World Heritage area, would now be protected. "There is so much on the outer islands that have lovely petroglyphs that need to be protected, and that will happen [now]." Mr Adams acknowledged much had already been lost to industrial development at Murujuga. He said elders in the early-2000s were unhappy about an expanding industry presence and decided a World Heritage bid was the best way to safeguard the rock art's future. In the years since approvals have been granted for two more liquid natural gas trains, two fertiliser plants, and a provisional approval to extend the North West Shelf gas project to 2070. "We can't stop them — we've tried. We've had people protest … still it carries on," Mr Adams said. He saw the listing as a bargaining chip that Murujuga custodians could use. "This is the tip of the iceberg for us," the Yindjibarndi man said. Michelle Adams, who was a cultural advisor to the World Heritage application, said the listing provided more security than what the government could offer. "We know that Murujuga World Heritage is a threat to industry, and so it should be," she said. "It's deep and it's beautiful and it has to be respected to the highest degree." Ahead of the Paris committee meeting this week the nomination was in serious doubt. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which advises the committee, had recommended knocking back the bid due to concerns about the impact of industry emissions. It was only at the eleventh hour that federal Environment Minister Murray Watt secured an amendment that saw the bid succeed. "In the end, what persuaded the committee was both the scientific evidence that was put forward, which disputed some of the claims that were being made, but also the genuine passion from the traditional owners to see this World Heritage listing be secured," Mr Watt said in Paris. The amendment included softened language regarding the prevention of further industrial development. Wording was changed from "recommends" to "encourages" in relation to a variety of protections and studies at the area. Raelene Cooper, advocate for Save our Songlines, described the amendments as "ludicrous" and said Australia should have accepted the ICOMOS recommendations. "At the end of the day, we're looking for the most protections out there," she said. WA Greens MLC Sophie McNeill said the amendment "watered down" the legitimate concerns of the ICOMOS. "We are deeply concerned the rock art now doesn't have as many protections as the experts think it should have," she said. "That's why we're calling on the Cook and Albanese governments to roll back that approval of the North West Shelf extension." Mr Watt said the federal government would ensure Murujuga was protected now and for future generations. The government agreed to update UNESCO with a report on the implementation of the amendment's recommendations by the end of 2027. WA Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourne said the state government would do its part. "[The WA government] will now implement the strategic management framework and establish the World Heritage property, ensuring the ongoing protection of this significant landscape which has been recognised today," he said. Woodside congratulated the traditional custodians of Murujuga on the listing and said it had been a proud supporter of the nomination and assessment process.
