Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable s enator ' s question:

(1) The Dampier Archipelago (including Burrup Peninsula) National Heritage Place was inscribed on the National Heritage List on 3 July 2007.

(2) The total area of the Dampier Archipelago (including Burrup Peninsula) Listed Place is 36,857 hectares.

The total area of the Burrup Peninsula is 11,806 hectares.

The total area of the National Heritage Place on the Burrup Peninsula is 8,074 hectares.

Therefore 68.4 percent of the Burrup Peninsula is covered by the National Heritage Place.

(3) The Western Australian Government will be responsible for the preparation of the management plan for the proposed Murujuga National Park (which comprises the majority of the Burrup Peninsula). The establishment of the jointly owned national park is pending legislative amendment by the Western Australian Parliament. Western Australian officials have advised that there is no set date for finalisation of the management plan.

(4) Please refer to the answer to question (3).

(5) Please refer to the answer to question (3).

(6) Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) the national heritage values of a listed place are protected as matters of national environmental significance. Proposed actions are thus regulated by the Australian Government to the extent that they may have a significant impact on the listed values. There are no matters of vandalism, theft or graffiti currently under investigation by the department.

The Western Australian Government is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Dampier Archipelago, including for offences that would not constitute significant impacts on matters of national environmental significance. Officials from the Western Australian and Australian governments liaise on possible lines of investigation in relation to claims of random theft or graffiti.

(7) (a) Yes, the department is aware of this incident. Please also refer to the answer to question (6). (b) Please refer to the answer to question (6).

(8) Please refer to the answer to question (6).

(9) Please refer to the answer to question (6)

(10) I am advised that the Western Australian Government plans to appoint rangers (or wardens) as part of the management of the proposed Murujuga National Park, in consultation with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation.

(11) I am advised that the Western Australian Government has committed $8 million for buildings and infrastructure associated with the protection and promotion of the Burrup heritage area. I am advised infrastructure will be decided through discussions with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation under the Burrup and Maitland Industrial Estate Agreement.

(12) The World Heritage Tentative List was last updated in 2010, and the Environment Protection and Heritage Council agreed that further additions to the Tentative List may be considered in 2011.

(13) Under the World Heritage Intergovernmental Agreement the preparation of a world heritage nomination is the responsibility of the state or territory in which the place is located. The Western Australian Government has not proposed the Burrup Peninsula for inclusion on Australia's World Heritage Tentative List.

(14) The department is aware of the World Heritage criteria. As no assessment has been undertaken the department has no view on whether the criteria and threshold of outstanding universal value would be satisfied.

(15) The Australian Convict Sites were officially inscribed on the World Heritage List on 31 July 2010 at the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in Brasilia. This World Heritage property is a serial inscription, which comprises 11 sites located across Australia.

(16) The Australian Government is not aware of any such views by UNESCO.

(17) The Australian Heritage Council will undertake an emergency assessment of the outstanding universal values of the Dampier Archipelago site and any threats to that site. I expect the Council to provide its draft report within six months. Once finalised, the Council's report will be made available to the public. The Australian Government will give careful consideration to the assessment provided by the Australian Heritage Council before deciding on next steps.

(18) Please refer to the answer to question (17).

(19) Please refer to the answer to question (17).

(20) The department is aware of, and currently assessing, two proposals for nitrates facilities on the Burrup Peninsula under the EPBC Act. Potential impacts on National Heritage values are being considered as part of this process. No decisions on approval have been taken.

(21) The Pluto Gas Project was referred to the then Minister under the EPBC Act on 1 August 2006. A Controlled Action decision was made on 24 August 2006, which was prior to the Dampier Archipelago (including Burrup Peninsula) being included on the National Heritage List. As national heritage values of the Dampier Archipelago (including Burrup Peninsula) were not listed as a matter of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act at the time of the referral decision, potential significant impacts on these values were not able to be considered as a controlling provision in the subsequent assessment of the project.

(22) The department is aware that relocation of rock art took place as part of the Pluto development, which is located outside the National Heritage Place.

(23) The department is aware that numbers of petroglyphs have been destroyed or relocated with approval by the responsible Western Australian Minister, under the Western Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972, but is not aware of precise numbers.