The McGowan Government is calling for skilled experts as part of its strategy to protect the Murujuga rock art (petroglyph) collection from the impacts of industry and shipping emissions.
The Government tender seeks providers with highly specialised expertise, qualifications and experience to develop and carry out a world-best practice monitoring program – key to the State’s recently released Murujuga Rock Art Strategy.
The strategy provides a transparent, risk-based approach to managing and monitoring the world’s largest collection of Aboriginal rock art in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Murujuga, located 1,300 kilometres north of Perth, is the Aboriginal name of the Burrup Peninsula and the Dampier Archipelago.
As well as the renowned rock art collection, Murujuga is also home to export industries critical to the Western Australian and national economies – including Rio Tinto’s Dampier Port operations, the North West Shelf Karratha Gas Plant, Pluto LNG project and Yara Pilbara.
The scientific monitoring and analysis program will determine whether the rock art on Murujuga is being subject to accelerated change. It will address the limitations of past studies to deliver a scientifically rigorous approach to monitoring and analysis.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation will work in partnership to oversee the monitoring program, and evaluate and report on changes and trends in the condition of the rock art.
Information for applicants is available on the Tenders WA website and will be open until 11am on May 29, 2019.
As stated by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson:
“Developing a world-best practice monitoring program is the next crucial step to implementing the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy.
“The Murujuga petroglyphs are a vital part of Western Australia’s cultural heritage and are of immense cultural and spiritual significance to the traditional owners.
“It is important we do all we can to protect and preserve this internationally significant rock art.
“This monitoring program will be globally unique – the work is complex and specialised and a multi-disciplinary approach is needed.”
As stated by Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation CEO Peter Jeffries:
“This rock art is recognised as being globally significant, and is a vitally important link to Aboriginal culture, history and stories.
“Our people are proudly responsible for patrolling and maintaining Murujuga through our Land and Sea Ranger Program.
“The Land and Sea Unit will work alongside the successful team to monitor the condition of the rock art.
“We have been looking after our country for tens of thousands of years.
“We are hopeful this monitoring program will allow Murujuga Land and Sea Unit Rangers to foster new skills and techniques as the true custodians of this sacred place.”
