Murujuga Rock Art, a site that holds a history of over 50,000 years, is at the center of a heated controversy involving the expansion of Woodside’s Karratha Gas Plant in Western Australia. This prehistoric rock art is of enormous cultural value. It is now known to be one of the world’s most significant collections of Aboriginal rock engravings. Environmentalists and Aboriginal leaders have been the first to sound the alarm. They worry that proposed industrial development in the area may irreparably harm this immeasurable cultural treasure.
Murujuga, or the Dinosaur Coast, sits on Australia’s Burrup Peninsula. It’s the home of more than a million petroglyphs, many of which feature now-extinct megafauna such as the Tasmanian tiger. These engravings often date as far back as 4000 B.C.E. Most of them are thought to be as much as eight times older than the Pyramids of Giza. They record the stories of the land and history of the Indigenous peoples who have called this rich desert home for thousands of years. Benjamin Smith, a professor of archaeology at The University of Western Australia, emphasizes the uniqueness of this site, stating, “There’s nowhere with as much rock art in a small place like this.”
The outrage only grew with the publication of the ‘Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program.’ This massive 800-page report revealed that air pollution from heavy industry is directly damaging rock art at each and every site tested. Smith cautioned that the harm done may already be permanent. He added that we are not too late to stop a lot of damage from being done. He stated, “If we get the pollution down, we’re okay. If we lack the backbone and fail to do that, we will lose a lot of this priceless rock art.”
Despite these warnings, the Western Australian government has just approved a further extension to the gas plant’s operations. In a statement, Environment Minister Murray Watt said the decision was based on robust scientific advice and community submissions. He continued by noting that the approval includes stringent requirements. These strict conditions mostly target maintaining air emissions below levels allowed from the expanded onshore Karratha gas plant.
Local Aboriginal leaders including Raelene Cooper are taking this decision to the Federal Court. Cooper, a Mardathoonera woman, hopes to draw her community’s representation further upstream into this legal struggle. “I’m not on my own, I’m bringing warriors from this ngurra (Country) with me,” she asserted, highlighting the collective resolve among traditional owners to protect their cultural heritage.
Woodside’s expansion of the Karratha Gas Plant has unified environmentalists and cultural advocates in fierce opposition. Greens leader Larissa Waters condemned the project, calling it “the largest and filthiest gas project” Australia has ever witnessed. Critics say today’s industrial practices pose an existential risk to these ancient depictions. In particular, they warn that these activities would irreparably harm already fragile ecosystems.
Smith slammed the state government’s response to the crisis, calling its official summary “propaganda.” He claimed that current industrial emissions are ruining these ancient engravings at five times the rate seen before. “This is one of the most weakly regulated industrial plants in the world,” he remarked, calling for stricter regulations to protect this invaluable site.
That increasingly difficult balance between facilitating industrial development and protecting cultural heritage remains a source of controversy and protest throughout the region. Senator Pat Dodson, who has been a strong advocate for the local community’s concerns. He calls on government officials to consult more deeply with traditional landowners to better grasp their concerns. “He needs to go and talk to those Traditional Owners from that area and hear their side of the story … so they understand and he understands the depth of their concern and why they are so upset,” Dodson expressed.
