New strategies developed to protect Pilbara rock art

February 19, 2019

The Western Australia Government is taking steps to better protect the world's largest collection of Aboriginal rock art (petroglyphs) in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

Western Australian Environment Minister Stephen Dawson recently released the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy, providing a transparent, risk-based approach to managing and monitoring the rock art.

Murujuga, located 1,300 kilometres north of Perth, is the Aboriginal name for the Burrup Peninsula and the Dampier Archipelago, the location of an internationally significant rock art collection.

The Burrup Peninsula is also a key location for jobs and export industries critical to Western Australian and national economies, with infrastructure including Rio Tinto's Dampier Port operations, the North West Shelf Karratha Gas Plant, Pluto LNG project and Yara Pilbara Fertilisers ammonia plant.

The Western Australian Government is confident that the unique Aboriginal culture and heritage values can continue to co-exist with well-regulated industry.

In September 2018, the Murujuga Rock Art Stakeholder Reference Group was established to facilitate engagement between the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation and key government, industry and community representatives to develop and implement the strategy.

The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation will now oversee a world best practice program to monitor, evaluate and report on factors that could affect the condition of the rock art.

This will be undertaken in consultation with a team of national and international experts in relevant disciplines.

Click here for more information on the Department of Water and Environmental regulations.

Image courtesy of The Ranges Karratha

12th January 2019 - Traditional owners withdraw support for National Aboriginal Art Gallery in Alice Springs

28th December 2018 - Nine Aboriginal arts projects to share in Western Australia Government funding

30th August 2018 - Agreement prompts potential World Heritage listing for Burrup Peninsula ancient Aboriginal site

21st June 2018 - Australian Government invests in digital labelling to combat fake Aboriginal art

15th May 2018 - Red Earth Arts Precinct opens in the Pilbara

20th July 2016 - Cairns Indigenous Art Fair draws record crowd

30th August 2015 - Naturebank encourages ecotourism opportunities in the Pilbara

31st May 2015 - Western Australian funding to boost tourism infrastructure and regional visitor centres

7th December 2012 - New Aboriginal art movement showcased at National Museum

6th December 2010 - New Cultural Tourism Centre For Ancient Art Form

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