Rock art findings a boost for North West Shelf as decision looms

New Environment Minister Murray Watt has promised to make a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf extension by the end of next week.

Senior rock art monitoring ranger Glen Aubrey assists Professor Katy Evans in chemical sampling of a rock art panel in Murujuga National Park. Picture: Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation

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Woodside Energy’s hopes of seeing its North West Shelf gas extension approved by the Albanese government have taken a big step forward, after the latest results from a scientific monitoring program played down the likelihood of emissions from the project impacting on the surrounding rock art.

The latest findings from the Western Australian government-backed Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program – which studies whether emissions from heavy industry on the Burrup Peninsula are accelerating the erosion of the one million-plus ancient petroglyphs in the area – were released late on Friday.

This was just days before new Environment Minister Murray Watt is due to make a decision on Woodside’s plans to extend the life of the huge North West Shelf LNG plant out to 2070.

A draft of the latest report was handed over in mid-2024 but up until now had not been publicly released.

The Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, the body established by the WA government to represent the traditional owner groups of the Burrup Peninsula, said in a statement that while the study had found that one of the five rock types being studied in the area may have been affected by industrial emissions, current emissions appeared to be below levels that may affect rock art.

The data revealed no sign that industrial emissions were causing acid rain in the area or were depositing acid on the rocks.

MAC said the rock type that was affected was likely to have resulted from the 1970s, when emissions were two to three times higher than current levels.

Senator Watt has promised to make a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf environmental approval by Friday. The Greens and teal MP Kate Chaney have long opposed the approval of the project, but Labor’s resounding win has given the government a clearer path to approving it.

MAC chairman Peter Hicks said protection of the rock art was vital to the organisation’s members.

“The latest findings show that past emission levels may have affected some of the rock types. We are confident that we have got a robust scientific program that is clarifying these processes so that we can achieve lasting protection of the rock art,” he said.

“MAC will continue to hold government to their commitment to protecting the rock art.”

An air quality monitoring station on Murujuga. Picture: Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation

A spokesman for Woodside said the company remained committed to protecting and managing “this precious and culturally significant place”.

“The latest findings from the state-led, independently peer-reviewed Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program … support the view that responsible operations, backed by science, traditional custodian leadership and collaboration can help protect this unique heritage for future generations,” the spokesman said.

“Woodside has taken proactive steps over many years – including emissions reductions, data sharing and ongoing support for MRAMP – to ensure we manage our impacts responsibly.”

But the findings and the timing of their release were slammed by Indigenous and environmental groups that have been campaigning against the North West Shelf extension.

Indigenous activist Raelene Cooper – a former chair of MAC who on Thursday launched a Federal Court action seeking to compel Senator Watt to make a declaration on whether heavy industry on the Burrup threatened the area’s Aboriginal heritage before he makes his North West Shelf decision – said the timing of the report’s release suggested the government did not want the findings scrutinised closely.

“The WA government has had months and months to massage this report into a condition they can release days before a North West Shelf decision is due, to justify the approval they are desperate for,” she said.

“This report confirms damage to rock art, and admits there are elevated levels of porosity near to industry in Dampier. We need independent experts, not funded by government or industry, to review these findings and see if they are being presented fairly.”

WA Greens MP Sophie McNeill said the biggest revelation from the report was that it confirmed there has been damage to some of the rocks.

“It strikes me as too much of a coincidence that the government has sat on this report for six months and then tried to play down this very significant finding in the report’s summary,” she said.

“Significantly, the report also confirms that further investigations are needed; Minister Watt must not approve the North West Shelf extension and any further development at Murujuga until this incredibly important work is done.”

Australian Conservation Foundation climate campaigner Piper Rollins also raised concerns about the timing of the release.

“It raises questions that this 800-page report on the rock art damage was taken out with the trash on a Friday afternoon just days before Minister Watt is due to make a decision on the North West Shelf extension, leaving almost no time for independent analysis of the new data,” Ms Rollins said.

“The North West Shelf decision could have generational impacts for traditional custodians and our climate. Minister Watt should allow adequate time for independent expert analysis of this new data.”