Purnululu National Park

Mining

The State Party has provided a clear but relatively brief report (dated 23 January 2008) in relation to the issues requested in the World Heritage Committee’s previous decision, which are as follows:

Addition of areas to the World Heritage property

The State Party reconfirms that 61,817 ha of land will be added to the Purnululu Conservation Reserve when the current pastoral leases expire in 2015. In addition the Western Australia (WA) Government took additional steps to protect the values of the World Heritage property by transferring responsibility for the management of the Ord River Regeneration Reserve (ORRR) which adjoins the property on its eastern and southern sides to the Western Australian (WA) Department of Environment and Conservation. These two commitments, together with the existing Purnululu Conservation Reserve will result in a total of 716,973 ha of land being managed adjacent to the inscribed property to protect the World Heritage values of the Park. A clear map has been provided which confirms that the nominated property is surrounded by conservation lands which effectively serve as a buffer zone for its values, (although they are not formally declared as a World Heritage buffer zone).

Funding and staffing of the property

The State Party reports in general terms on a number of different capital works that have been implemented through the WA Government (WAG), mainly for developing visitor use facilities and additional accommodation for staff and it does not provide specific information on the sustainable finance arrangements for the World Heritage property.

Update of management plan

The State Party reports that the Purnululu National Park Management Plan is being reviewed to address the needs of the WA Government and the indigenous peoples who claim traditional affiliation with the Park. The Government is also investigating the inclusion of a “cultural planning framework” into the process and describes this as a form of consultation to ensure traditional values are represented in the management of the property.

Cultural and indigenous values

The State Party notes the involvement of indigenous people in the decisions about the management of the property, and its staffing. However the State Party also notes that there is an ongoing legal process to determine native title over Purnululu National Park and consider that this would affect the information that the State Party would have to report on.

The World Heritage Centre and IUCN consider that the process outlined by the State Party appears to provide a satisfactory way forward in relation to the principal issues identified. IUCN Australia will make contact with the State Party to confirm that the issues of sustainable finance are being addressed, and it is suggested that this be done in conjunction with input from ICOMOS in relation to the cultural values of the property. The State Party should also be asked to confirm when the issue of land tenure will be resolved. In this way IUCN considers that effective monitoring of this property can continue but without placing an ongoing burden on the agenda of the Committee. IUCN considers that the State Party should be asked to report on the State of Conservation of the property in three years time in order to keep track of progress.