CONCERNS REMAIN FOR MURUJUGA DESPITE STATEMENT OF INTENT ON HERITAGE PROTECTION
BY GERARD MAZZA AND ASAD KHAN
Industry and rock art at Murujuga, the Burrup Peninsula. Credit: Supplied.
State and federal governments have signed a Statement of Intent to guide a new agreement on the protection of the Murujuga cultural landscape at the Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara.
The statement was also signed by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) and companies that operate on the Burrup Peninsula, including Woodside, Rio Tinto, Yara and Perdaman.
Government, industry and MAC have said they intend to work together to form a new agreement on how to manage cultural heritage.
Meanwhile, construction work continues on the Perdaman urea plant and Woodside gas expansions at the Burrup Peninsula, despite ongoing concerns over their impacts on heritage and the environment.
MAC Chairperson Peter Hicks said the signing was a proud moment for Traditional Custodians of Murujuga.
“Even though our connection to Murujuga country has persisted more than 50,000 years, the legal framework has not previously included the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Murujuga as decision-makers,” he said.
“The signing of the Statement of Intent is a step towards forming a Heads of Agreement that will ensure MAC, as the representative body for Murujuga Traditional Owners and Custodians, and the cultural authority for the Murujuga Cultural Landscape, is on an equal footing in future decision-making – instead of us needing to push to be recognised each time.”
Cultural heritage campaigner and MAC member Raelene Cooper said she had no confidence the Statement of Intent would lead to meaningful protection.
“They have no intent, at all, of fixing what’s happened out at Murujuga, and state and federal government should be ashamed of themselves,” she said.
“They are continually raping and murdering the country. Rio Tinto, Woodside, Yara … and now we have Perdaman urea plant being built there. How dare they.”
A MAC spokesperson said the planned new agreement would replace existing, outdated Commonwealth Conservation Agreements between the federal government and industry.
MAC CEO Kim Wood said the agreement was not expected to replace the controversial Burrup and Maitland Industrial Estates Agreement (BMIEA) between Traditional Custodian groups and the state government.
He said MAC was considering how to address specific issues in the BMIEA including a ‘no objections’ clause. Some Traditional Custodians have said that clause prevents them from speaking freely regarding industrial development at Murujuga.
Premier Roger Cook said the agreement would help progress the UNESCO World Heritage nomination of the Murujuga Cultural Landscape.
“Murujuga has enormous cultural significance, and only by working with Traditional Owners can we ensure that culture is protected, and can co-exist with industry in the area,” he said.
The federal government’s initial application for World Heritage listing was knocked back last year because of issues with a map submitted. A revised application may not be considered until 2025.
The state government also confirmed yesterday it planned to transfer 250 hectares of land previously earmarked for industrial use to the Murujuga National Park. The transfer was originally announced by former Premier Mark McGowan when work began on the Perdaman urea facility in April 2023.
Premier Roger Cook said plans for a new pipeline to be built at Murujuga as part of the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub were consistent with the state government’s commitments.
“We’ll continue to need corridors for hydrogen, for power and other utilities to service the industries which are already on the Burrup Peninsula,” he said.
“That’s why we want to continue to work with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation on how we can facilitate that work, while at the same time be respectful and acknowledge the fact and accomodate the cultural heritage which is present on that area.”
The Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA) welcomed plans to transfer land for the national park, but said more needed to be done to protect the Burrup.
“In an area that is being nominated for World Heritage listing, protection of Murujuga’s natural assets is essential,” said CCWA President Dr Richard Yin.
“The culturally significant petroglyphs of the area document avian, marine and land animals that have lived in the area for thousands of years, but this same fauna is under threat due to continued expansion of industry, and the associated environmental impacts.“