The World Heritage nomination for the Burrup Peninsula has been given a boost from the Federal Government with the allocation of more than $575,000 in funding to the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation.
Environment Minister Melissa Price announced the $576,443 last week with the funds to be used to build recognition, management, conservation and public engagement of Murujuga National Park.
MAC chief executive Peter Jeffries said the bulk of the funding would go towards the construction of a boardwalk at Deep Gorge, which would provide a safe viewing platform of the rock art.
“The project will also provide information on the engravings to explain what they depict, to encourage a greater understanding of our culture,” he said.
Ms Price said the funds would also be used for the employment of a World Heritage Support Officer.
“The role will assist with the World Heritage nomination for Murujuga that will involve ongoing liaison with many stakeholders, government and the World Heritage Advisor,” she said.
Mr Jeffries was hopeful someone would be employed in the position by the first half of this year, so they could assist in the task of compiling the submission for the World Heritage Tentative list.
“The submission is expected to be completed by the end of the year, and will then be presented to the Commonwealth Government, which in turn will submit it to UNESCO by February 1, 2020,” he said.
The funding comes after the McGowan Government committed $1.33 million for MAC’s Living Knowledge Centre and $649,000 for the implementation of the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy.
Source: Pilbara News