The Federal environment minister has issued a request to the multinational Perdaman Industries to temporarily cease works on a proposed fertiliser plant in WA, while it reassesses whether the project is in line with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.
Murujuga (the Burrup Peninsula) in Dampier, north WA, contains the world’s largest and oldest art gallery.
The area is culturally significant to the Mardudhunera Traditional Owners, as it contains more than one million pieces of rock art, carved into the rock over the course of over 47,000 years.
Perdaman Industries is planning to build a $4.5 billion urea plant at the sacred site.
Traditional Owners wrote to federal environment minister Sussan Ley asking her to use emergency powers to protect the sacred rock art site from encroachment by the mining industry.
"We have to do everything in our means to make sure that the rock art is protected and we are obligated as Traditional Owners to do that,” said Mardudhunera and Kuruman Traditional Owner Josie Alec.
A spokesperson for Ms Ley said the project is temporarily on hold while the department assesses section 9 and 10 applications under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.
Josie Alec is concerned about the impact of the development on the ancient site, which is shortlisted for World Heritage status. Source: Supplied
“Perdaman has recently received Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act approval which was subject to rigorous assessment by both the West Australian and Commonwealth Governments," the statement said.
“The approval includes a number of conditions relating to the protection of Indigenous cultural heritage, including a cultural heritage management plan endorsed by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation.
“At this time the scheduling of works remains a matter for the proponent who must meet all conditions including those relating to the protection of Indigenous cultural heritage.”
The Traditional Owners however are questioning whether the heritage laws are fit for purpose, following the developments around Murujuga and the destruction of Juukan Gorge in May 2020.
“When we wrote this letter, it was with the full intent for them to come in and do this investigation and find out what the real truth is," said Ms Alec.
Ms Alec says the letter was also emailed to Minister Ken Wyatt’s office, but she was told it has been "lost".
"I don’t know how they lose an email but that was the response from his office, and it’s pretty disappointing from an Aboriginal cultural perspective that the leader of our Indigenous people can lose an important letter like that," she said.
She said the Traditional Custodians of the area will be devastated if the controversial urea plant goes ahead.
Heavy industry has been on the Burrup Peninsula for decades, but some traditional custodians are growing increasingly worried about expansion plans. Source: NITV The Point
“It is bigger than Juukan Gorge," she said.
"If that rock art does get moved, there is going to be a lot more of mother nature kicking back on us. We are dealing with higher forces greater than anybody’s comprehension when we talk about that rock art.
“This place has been shortlisted for World Heritage [status]. This should be one of the seven wonders... of the world.
"It has been disregarded and totally disrespected."
