19th August 2013
“Shocking news has come to light with the information that the Burrup Peninsula is once again under serious threat. Burrup Materials Pty Ltd has taken out a number of leases for mining activities in this area, which is of significant importance to the Roebourne Aboriginal community.
“This area is on the National Heritage List, thanks to the former federal Liberal government, and has been extensively surveyed, revealing thousands of petroglyphs (ancient Indigenous rock carvings).
“The Burrup has the largest concentration of rock art in the world, and is an extraordinary cultural landscape telling the story of ancient Aboriginal occupation over the past 30,000 years.
“Hamersley Iron (owned by Rio Tinto) was the former owner of the area now in question, but recently handed the lease back to the state government because of its heritage values, and to ensure that the rock art would never be mined.
“It is noted that in the Warden’s Court on Friday the 24th of May 2013, Hamersley Iron lodged an objection against the 3 leases held by Burrup Materials Pty Ltd, a single entity company directed by Mauritz Leon Kurt.
“How the government could even let such a crazy proposal get to first base defies belief.
“This state is the subject of growing international concern, as the value of the Burrup as an archaeological treasure becomes more widely known – unless the government clearly demonstrates that projects such as this latest one are not welcome on the Burrup, we will become an object for ridicule.
“I appeal to the Premier to stop this continued vandalism once and for all, and give the Burrup Peninsula the protection it deserves,” concluded Mr Chapple.
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255
