Murujuga Rock Art Gains World Heritage Status Amid Ongoing Concerns

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Environmentalists express concern that expanding a gas project might endanger an ancient Indigenous rock art collection now designated as a World Heritage site.

The Murujuga rock art landscape in Western Australia has been declared a heritage site by UNESCO following an extensive effort by the federal government.

“For over 50,000 years, the Ngarda-Ngarli people have safeguarded and managed this vital land and seascape — and today, I am pleased to announce that Murujuga will gain additional protection through the World Heritage system,” stated Environment Minister Murray Watt while visiting UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

“Attaining World Heritage status ensures enhanced protection under Australian law and invites the global community to appreciate this distinctive cultural landscape,” Watt further noted.

Murujuga boasts the world’s largest, densest, and most varied collection of rock art engravings, known as petroglyphs — some dating back over 50,000 years.

These artworks illustrate animals, plants, and human figures, becoming visible due to the contrast between the outer varnish and the lighter weathered layer of the underlying rocks.

Originally presented to UNESCO in 2023, Australia’s application was referred back in May.

UNESCO advised state and federal governments to tackle issues regarding nearby acid emissions, such as those from Woodside’s Burrup gas hub, which are harming the art.

The North West Shelf gas project is featured alongside a turtle petroglyph 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 historic day for our ancestors and future generations, as Murujuga’s exceptional universal heritage values gain global recognition,” she remarked.

“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 (CO₂-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 CO₂-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.