MURUJUGA CUSTODIANS DISAPPOINTED BY PERDAMAN DECISION

BY GERARD MAZZA

Ancient rock art sits next to industry at Murujuga on the Burrup Peninsula. Credit: Supplied, Save Our Songlines.

Traditional custodians of Murujuga on the Burrup Peninsula have expressed their disappointment in a federal government decision to allow a fertilizer plant to proceed.

Yesterday, Federal Environment minister Tanya Plibersek announced she would reject an application for Perdaman’s $4.5 billion urea plant on Murujuga to be stopped so heritage sites could be protected. The application was made by Save Our Songlines, a group of traditional custodians.

Three rock art engravings will be relocated to make way for the facility.

According to Save Our Songlines, up to 20 other sites could be impacted in some way.

Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi cultural tour guide Clinton Walker posted a video on Facebook where he said he felt “gutted” by the news.

“They’ve proven time and time again that they will always put industrial things first before Aboriginal heritage,” he said.

“Tanya Plibersek, you're absolutely useless. And same with the rest of the government.”

Josie Alec and Raelene Cooper of Save Our Songlines, who made the heritage applications, said Ms Plibersek “clearly hasn’t done her homework.”

“If she had read through all the documents provided as part of the Section 9 process she would not have made this decision, which is based on faulty reasoning and false conclusions,” they said.

Perdaman has told the ABC construction will begin by the end of October.