The magnificent Aboriginal petroglyphs of the Burrup Peninsula are the oldest and largest gallery of Aboriginal rock art anywhere in the world and should be World Heritage Listed ( WAToday: Burrup Peninsula Aboriginal rock art could be given World Heritage status ).
These engravings are more than 40,000 years old and demonstrate continuous human habitation from before the last ice age until the massacres which occurred in 1868.
The foundation welcomes Liberal Leader Colin Barnett’s promise to propose the area for world Heritage Listing if he is returned to Government.
“We call on Labor leader Mark McGowan to match Colin Barnett’s promise”, Bob Brown Foundation spokesperson Christine Milne said today.
“Colin Barnett has spoken long and often about World Heritage listing of the area but failed to act when he had the power to do so. Instead he has encouraged industrial development including YARA International’s Technical Ammonium Nitrate plant which will destroy the petroglyphs with acid rain and acid dust particles if is given an operating license.”
“I call on Colin Barnett to get serious about protecting the area. Start with World Heritage Listing and at the same time, relocate YARA’s TAN plant to the Maitland Industrial estate.”
“Labor can no longer ignore this precious cultural heritage site. I look forward to Labor Leader Mark McGowan stepping up and also agreeing to propose the area for immediate inclusion Australia’s World Heritage Tentative List, Christine Milne said.
Jenny Weber, Campaign Manager, Bob Brown Foundation
