The planned expansion of a massive industrial site on a remote part of the Australian coastline threatens to destroy hundreds of ancient Aboriginal rock engravings.
The petroglyphs, which depict human figures, mysterious abstract motifs and extinct animals, are etched into boulders and rock faces on the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia. They were painstakingly carved by Aborigines over the course of more than 20,000 years.
But the carvings share the 20km-long peninsula with huge natural gas processing plants and iron ore shipment facilities. Conservationists say expansion of the industrial complex will destroy hundreds, if not thousands, of carvings, in the latest chapter in a decades-old battle between Aboriginal heritage and the demands of modern economic development.
They argue that bulldozing or removing any of the petroglyphs would be cultural vandalism akin to the Taleban's destruction of the Bamiyan buddhas in Afghanistan.
The West Australian government announced last week that it would fight an attempt to have the rock art placed on the National Heritage list, which would afford greater protection.
It said the listing would have 'potentially grave consequences' for the planned expansion of oil and gas facilities.
'We are trying very hard to work with industry and the Aboriginal community to minimise any impact on individual rock art sites while also managing the multi-billion dollar industry in the area,' the Department of Industry said.
