Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek travelled to Cairns on 20 June for a joint announcement with her state counterparts and Traditional Owners about which seven Cape York sites had been submitted to UNESCO for tentative World Heritage consideration. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
The state and federal governments have revealed which seven well-known Cape York sites have been submitted to UNESCO for tentative World Heritage consideration.
A platoon of politicians, including Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek, Premier Steven Miles, Minster for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leanne Linard, and Cook MP Cynthia Lui, joined with Traditional Owners in Cairns on 20 June to announce which locations across Cape York had been earmarked to receive World Heritage status.
The sites included in the tentative submission are Alwal National Park, KULLA (McIlwraith Range) National Park, Olkola National Park, Ma’alpiku (Restoration Island) National Park, Oyala Thumotang National Park, Wuthathi (Shelburne Bay) National Park, and Quinkan Country near Laura.
The submission came after consultation with Traditional Owners of the nominated sites, with Minister Linard admitting it represented “the first step in a long journey” to World Heritage recognition that would likely take years.
There was little detail about the next steps in the consultation process, which has come under fire for failing to seek input from non-Indigenous stakeholders.
In May, a Department of Environment, Science and Innovation spokesperson told Cape York Weekly the full nomination process would require the “participation and free, prior and informed consent” of all stakeholders with interests in the proposed sites.
“A future World Heritage nomination process will require the participation and free, prior and informed consent of all who have rights and interests in potential areas, including Traditional Owners, landowners, industry, councils and other stakeholders,” the spokesperson said.
The position was echoed by Minister Linard, who said both governments were committed to further consultation as the process progressed.
State Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Leanne Linard tell media on 20 June getting seven Cape York sites tentatively listed for World Heritage recognition is the “first step in a long journey”. Photo: Lyndon Keane.
“Both levels of government have always said a full World Heritage nomination would only proceed with the full, prior and informed consent of Traditional Owners and broader consultation with community,” she said.
“No land will be included without property owners’ consent [and] I’m proud that the first step in this process has now been achieved.”
Minister Plibersek was quick to tell the assembled media at the Cairns Botanic Gardens World Heritage status “doesn’t impact existing land tenure” and was about environmental protection.
“Sitting at our doorstep to the north, Cape York is an important site in our national story,” she said.
“It’s home to spectacular landscapes, important places, and stories that span generations; this is a special part of Australia.
“A World Heritage listing would give the Cape better protection, so it can continue to be visited and enjoyed by our kids and grandkids.”
Wuthathi Elder Johnson Chippendale said his people had a “long history of conservation, protection and caring for Country” and supported the inclusion of Wuthathi (Shelburne Bay) National Park on the tentative list.
“This is only the tentative listing, they will be in deep consultation with all our Wuthathi people, led by Wuthathi people with the state’s support, following our protocol and guidelines to ensure protection and economic wealth and management of resource for our people,” he said.
“Wuthathi people talk for Wuthathi Country and make decision for Wuthathi Country, no one else.”
The ancient rock art located in Quinkan Country, near Laura, is captured in one of the locations put forward for tentative World Heritage listing. Photo: Supplied.
