ELDERS REPEATEDLY OBJECTED TO ROCK ART REMOVALS

In the Pilbara, elders from the Aboriginal Corporation representing Traditional Owners of Murujuga, the Burrup Peninsula, repeatedly objected to sacred sites being moved for a urea plant, the Australian says.

The newspaper says a June letter from Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation CEO Peter Jeffries to the Federal Environment Department details concerns about planned rock art removals to make way for Perdaman's urea facility

“The Circle of Elders have made it clear on numerous occasions that their preference is for the rock art to remain in situ and undisturbed,” the letter says.

According to the letter, Perdaman advised it was not possible to leave the rock art in place, and so the Circle of Elders made the recommendation to relocate the sites.

The letter also says Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation has no authority to approve or reject developments in the area, according to the Australian.

Earlier this week, Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved the Perdaman project, saying that Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation had agreed to relocate the heritage sites.