WA; Industry impact on ancient rock measured by scientists

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2004
WA; Industry impact on ancient rock measured by scientists

By Holly Nott

PERTH, April 6 AAP - Scientists have started a four-year study into the impact of industrial
development on 10,000-year-old Aboriginal rock art in Western Australia.

The unique gallery of carved petroglyphs on Burrup Peninsula shares the Pilbara region
with Australia's biggest resource development - Woodside's North West Shelf project -
and Hamersley Iron's iron ore operations.

The heritage value of the rock art was recently noted by the New York-based World Monuments
Fund, which included the site in its list of the world's 100 most endangered sites.

But the most intensive rock art monitoring program ever undertaken will attempt to
quantify any damage caused by industrial emissions, and identify ways to protect the ancient
art.

"To the best of our knowledge, this monitoring program will be the most thorough scientific
research of impacts on rock art ever undertaken in Australia," Professor Frank Murray
of Burrup Rock Art Monitoring Management Committee said.

"The monitoring program is being conducted by some of our nation's finest scientists
who are using the best available equipment, and the research will be completely independent
of government and industry."

Four monitoring studies have been commissioned at a cost of $391,174.

Prof Murray said the work would include measuring the current condition of the rock
art, and identifying and measuring ground level concentrations of any pollutants on the
rock surfaces.

"We'll also investigate the natural processes and emissions that might degrade the
rock art, monitoring changes over time, and then if necessary, proposing appropriate management
measures," he said.

Monitoring sites were selected in consultation with the local Aboriginal community
and include locations that are both close to and distant from industrial emission sources
on the Burrup.

Reports on the studies will be published every six months.

AAP hn/pw/de

KEYWORD: ROCK

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