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Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Page: 3007

National Heritage List

(Question No. 538)

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 22 March 2011:

With reference to the answer provided to Question no. 97 taken on notice during the 2010-11 Supplementary Budget Estimates of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee regarding the status of management plans for National Heritage List places, and noting that, of 89 National Heritage List places, 9 have no plan in place (1 of which is the Dampier Archipelago, including the Burrup Peninsula), and 5 of these do have management arrangements in place:

(1) During the estimates hearing in October 2010, the department advised that the Western Australian Government is developing an Aboriginal Heritage Management Plan that will also protect heritage values - can details be provided describing what progress has been made in developing a management plan, and what is the timeframe for completion.

(2) Is the Dampier Archipelago on Australia's tentative list for World Heritage listing; if not, why not and will it be included in the next updated tentative list.

(3) When will the updated tentative list be released to the public.

(4) Is the process to develop the tentative list a robust, comprehensive and expert process.

(5) Does the department have a position on the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority recommendation to the Western Australian Minister for the Environment that the Technical Ammonium Nitrate Production Facility of Burrup Nitrates Pty Ltd be approved when it is located immediately adjacent to the National Heritage place and will destroy known Aboriginal artefacts.

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

(1) 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.

(2) The Dampier Archipelago in not on the World Heritage Tentative List. 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.

(3) 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 . Australia ' s current tentative list is always available to the public on the World Heritage website ( http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/ ).

(4) A thorough process has been developed and agreed by all Australian governments and includes consideration of the tentative list by a COAG ministerial council.

(5) The department does not have a position on the Western Australian Environment Protection Authority ' s recommendation to the Western Australian Minister for the Environment regarding this proposed facility.