Greater Blue Mountains Area
Factors affecting the property in 2004*
- Mining
- Surface water pollution
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Potential extension of a mining lease
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2004
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 2004**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2004
On 13 October 2003 the World Heritage Centre received a report from the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd, Australia, claiming that a proposed mine will threaten the Greater Blue Mountains Area. The report draws attention to a proposal for a 27 million tonne sand and clay mine, located directly adjoining the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage property. According to the report, this will impact upon the biodiversity values, through pollution of the Wollangambe River, and damage essential elements of the integrity of the property. The report requests the Government to set up a public process to define an adequate buffer area for the property.
The Centre transmitted the report to the State Party and IUCN. The State Party, responding to the report, noted that the assessment of this mining proposal is being conducted by the New South Wales Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources and the decision is awaited. It also indicated that the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999 imposes obligations on undesirable actions not only within a World Heritage area but also outside the area.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2004
28 COM 15B.15
Greater Blue Mountains Area (Australia)
The World Heritage Committee,1. Acknowledges receipt of the State Party’s report with clarifications on the status of the proposed sand and clay mine adjacent to the World Heritage property of the Greater Blue Mountains Area;
2. Encourages the State Party to prevent any developments that could have adverse effects on the World Heritage property;
3. Requests that the State Party keep the World Heritage Centre and IUCN informed on the status of the proposed sand and clay mine adjacent to the Greater Blue Mountains Area and the proposed measures to avoid any potential impact it may have on the World Heritage property.
Draft Decision: 28 COM 15B.15
The World Heritage Committee,
1. Acknowledges receipt of the State Party’s report with clarifications on the status of the proposed sand and clay mine adjacent to the Greater Blue Mountains Area;
2. Encourages the State Party to prevent any developments that could have adverse effects on the World Heritage property;
3. Requests that the State Party keep the World Heritage Centre and IUCN informed on the status of the proposed sand and clay mine adjacent to the Greater Blue Mountains Area and the proposed measures to avoid any potential impacts it may have on the World Heritage property.
Australia
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
