Australia's bid to be listed as a World Heritage Site for ancient rock art is stalled over pollution
The U.N. advisory panel warned that industrial pollution near the site could threaten its World Heritage status.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites recommended that UNESCO refer the nomination to the Australian Government so it can "prevent further industrial development adjacent and within the Murujuga Culture Landscape".
The Murujuga Rock Art, located on the Burrup Peninsula, in the Western Australia State, is culturally and spiritually significant to the local Indigenous Australians. It was nominated in 2023 for a heritage listing.
The Burrup Peninsula, also known as the Norwegian Yara International, is home to two Woodside gas plants, along with fertiliser and explosive plants.
The government extended Wednesday the life of Woodside’s largest gas facility in the region, North West Shelf. This will now last until 2070. The extension could generate an additional 4.3 billion tons of carbon emissions.
Rio Tinto's destruction of the Juukan Gorge Rock Shelters, which date back 46,000 years, as part of an expansion mine in 2020 has increased scrutiny over the industry's impact on Indigenous heritage sites.
Australia said that the Murujuga rock art was in "good overall condition" and provided findings of a site study which showed there was no evidence of "acid deposition or rain contributing to the damage of the rock artwork".
ICOMOS, however, recommended that no further industrial development be allowed near the site. They also called for "a decommissioning plan and rehabilitation plan for any existing industrial activities."
ICOMOS, citing reports from media quoting experts in rock art and information received regarding the proposed North West Shelf Extension, concluded that "the conservation of the petroglyphs is extremely vulnerable and threaten by industrial acidic emission".
Luke James, cultural heritage expert from Deakin University said that the draft ICOMOS decision was "a setback" for Australian government.
He said that ICOMOS had identified concerns about protection and management. It is up to the Australian Government to show the committee they can overcome these obstacles, otherwise it will have to wait at least one year and continue to work to get another chance to inscription.
Woodside stated in a press release that it continues to support the listing of rock art as a heritage site and will work with Murujuga's traditional owners and the government to develop its response to ICOMOS recommendation.
It said: "We think the World Heritage nomination must proceed on the basis of evidence, and should be a proof that industry and cultural heritage can coexist responsibly when transparency, collaboration and rigorous scientific oversight are in place."
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is scheduled to meet in July. Christine Chen, Sydney (Reporting; Michael Perry, Editing)
(source: Reuters)
