Decision 47 COM 7B.3

Greater Blue Mountains Area (Australia)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/25/47.COM/7B.Add.2,
2. Recalling Decisions 44 COM 7B.180 and 45 COM 7B.80, adopted at its extended 44th (Fuzhou/online, 2021) and extended 45th (Riyadh, 2023) sessions, respectively,
3. Appreciates the continued collaboration between the Australian and New South Wales (NSW) governments and various other stakeholders, including First Nations peoples for the conservation and management of the property;
4. Welcomes the ongoing implementation of long-term recovery measures to address the ecological impacts of the 2019-2020 bushfires, which affected 71% of the property, on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, including adaptive management, renewed prevention preparedness and resilience building for future natural disasters, as well as the prioritisation of threatened species recovery and the report of positive improvements for some threatened species, as well as prioritisation of climate action, and requests the State Party to continue the effective implementation of these measures to ensure continued recovery of the property;
5. Noting that the recovery of the property from the impacts of the bushfires will take many years, also requests the State Party to provide an update on progress achieved regarding:
   1. the ongoing monitoring and assessment of ecological impacts of the 2019-2020 bushfires and the implementation of various long-term recovery measures,
   2. implementation of the remaining recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, NSW Bushfire Inquiry and Independent Flood Inquiry;
6. Also appreciates the continued confirmation that there are no further plans to raise the Warragamba Dam wall, and confirmation that the various activities planned within the existing dam footprint to allow environmental flows will be adequately assessed, and that the State Party will inform the World Heritage Centre of any potential impacts on the OUV of the property;
7. Notes with appreciation that the completed assessment of potential cumulative mining impacts on the property informed the development of internal guidelines to assess proposed mining developments around the property for potential impacts on the OUV in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context;
8. Also welcomes the confirmation that the update of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area Strategic Plan will consider all potential threats to the property including activities outside its boundaries, including mining activities;
9. Further requests the State Party to keep the World Heritage Centre informed of any significant developments that may impact the OUV of the property in the future, including those related to mining and renewable energy, in accordance with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
10. Requests furthermore the State Party to ensure that the potential impacts of any activities related to the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, including the finalisation of the flight path design, on the OUV of the property are fully assessed in line with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context and that any negative impacts are avoided;
11. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2027, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above.