Aboriginal rock paintings on the Burrup peninsula, photo Karen Robinson
Burrup Peninsula: Take Action!
The globally significant Burrup rock art precinct could be destroyed if the Federal and Western Australian Governments allow the construction of a giant gas processing plant on the Burrup Peninsula by Woodside, the Perth based oil and gas exploration and production company.
An assessment by the Australian Hertiage Council found Burrup Peninsula meets 5 of the 9 criteria for National Heritage Listing. To qualify, a site need only meet one of the criteria. However the Federal Minister for the Environment appears set not to nominate the area for Heritage Listing, instead saying the cost to the Australian economy would be too great.
Woodside have been very much against the listing of Burrup but on November 28 2006 the company issued issued a media statement in which they said they were dropping their opposition to the listing of Burrup on the National Heritage List. They believe there can be both protection of the rock art and industry development.
However rock art experts, Indigenous groups etc don't believe such a 'win/win' is possible at such a sensitive site and want Woodside to find an alternative site (something other resource companies involved in LNG production off the WA cost have done already). On Friday (10/12/2006) Federal MPs Racheal Siewert (Greens) and Carmen Lawrence (ALP) with a few other supporters applied for emergency listing of the Burrup under s.324F of the EPBC in a move to quicken a decision.
**Update 26 March 2007**
Newly appointed Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull opted to defer making a decision on the listing of the Dampier Rock Art Precinct (Burrup Peninsula) in late February. In a media release at the time, Mr Turnbull stated he would further consider the matter saying he would not make a decision until the middle of this year.
Observers have noted that Woodside (the company wanting to build a huge natural gas processing facility) are expected to make a final investment decision whether to invest $6 to $10 billion in the project at its June or August Board meeting. The deferment is perhaps an opportunity for people to try again to get the Federal Government to halt the almost certain destruction of many pieces of ancient rock art on the Burrup.
Links:
http://www.dampierrockart.net
http://www.burrup.org.au/
http://www.ntwa.com.au/
People are urged to write to the editor of The West Australian and The Australian newspaper to voice your concerns of the Burrup:
The West Australian
Go to www.thewest.com.au and scroll to the bottom - Contact Us
The Australian
letters@theaustralian.com.au or
wa@theaustralian.com.au
