Tenders invited for Burrup rock art monitoring
Specialists capable of detecting changes in rock art are being called on to monitor the ancient Aboriginal rock art of the Burrup Peninsula.
The Burrup, or Murujuga, is home to more than a million rock carvings in proximity to several major industrial facilities, emissions from which some people believe could be damaging the artworks.
The site is also in the early stages of a nomination process for World Heritage listing.
Last month the State Government invited tenders for experts interested in monitoring the artworks, as the latest step in its Murujuga Rock Art Strategy.
The government intends the monitoring program to determine whether the Burrup rock art is being subjected to “accelerated changes” and to address limitations experienced by past studies.
Environment Minister Stephen Dawson said a new monitoring program would be an important measure for preserving the Burrup’s internationally significant rock art.
“Developing a world-best practice monitoring program is the next crucial step to implementing the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy,” he said.
“This monitoring program will be globally unique — the work is complex and specialised and a multi-disciplinary approach is needed.”
Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Peter Jeffries said the Murujuga Land and Sea Unit rangers would work alongside the successful team to monitor the condition of rock art.
“This rock art is recognised as being globally significant, and is a vitally important link to Aboriginal culture, history and stories,” he said.
“We are hopeful this monitoring program will allow Murujuga Land and Sea Unit Rangers to foster new skills and techniques as the true custodians of this sacred place.”
Tenders are open until May 29.
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