Study on ancient Australia rock art paves way for Woodside's North West Shelf extension
SYDNEY, May 23 (Reuters) - Ancient rock art in Western Australia is not being damaged by emissions from industrial sites, a study released on Friday found, just days out from a decision on whether to extend Woodside's (WDS.AX), opens new tab major gas project nearby.
The latest findings from the Western Australian government's ongoing Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program could clear the way for Woodside's North West Shelf liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant extension, as well as the addition of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The Murujuga rock art is estimated to be up to 50,000 years old and is of cultural and spiritual significance to Indigenous Australians. Australia nominated the landscape for heritage listing in 2023.
The rock art is located on the Burrup Peninsula, a key industrial hub, also home to two LNG plants run by Woodside and fertiliser and explosives plants run by Norway's Yara International.
The Australian federal government is currently considering a proposal to extend the life of Woodside's North West Shelf project until 2070.
Environmental groups have long opposed the extension, citing the risk of acidic industrial emissions degrading the rock art's surface.
Australia's decision on the North West Shelf is due by next week. The UNESCO World Heritage listing decision is due by July.
"The program's data does not support earlier theories suggesting acid rain or deposition is contributing to damage of the rock art," a statement from the state government said.
Belinda Churnside, vice chair of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, which partnered with the government on the study, said in a video that she was confident the rock art monitoring program would contribute to its conservation and "support the decisions made by the World Heritage Committee."
However, the study did find some rock surfaces had been affected by industrial pollution when emissions were higher in the 1970s.
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