The Greens welcome decision by Marmion on Burrup

Greens WA Mining spokesperson Robin Chapple MLC today welcomed the decision by the Minister of Mines to reject the applications by Burrup Materials Pty Ltd for prospecting licences over areas of high rock art density on the Burrup Peninsula.

“Whilst I welcome the decision I am concerned that the Minister has stated that one of the reasons for his refusal to grant the leases is that part of the area has also been identified as future sites for strategic industry”

“I find this totally unacceptable given that this area is in the National Heritage Listed area, originally held by Rio Tinto who handed the lease back to the state government because of its heritage values to ensure that the rock art would never be harmed.”

“The Burrup has the largest concentration of rock art in the world, and is an extraordinary cultural landscape telling the story of ancient Aboriginal occupation over the past 30,000 years.

“How the government could even let such a crazy proposal get to first base back in 2013 defies belief.

It was as a result of the former federal Liberal governments heritage concerns that this area was extensively surveyed, revealing thousands of petroglyphs (ancient Indigenous rock carvings).

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255.

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