An application to halt construction of a multi-billion-dollar urea plant near ancient rock art in WA's Pilbara region has been knocked back by the federal government.
It has triggered disappointment from traditional owners, who earlier this year called on Environment Minister Sussan Ley to make an "emergency declaration" to stop a proposed plant on the Burrup Peninsula, about 25 kilometres from Karratha, by multi-national group, Perdaman.
If it goes ahead, the $4.5 billion project would produce an estimated two million tonnes of urea fertilizer per year, which conservation groups, rock art experts and some traditional custodians fear would cause irreversible damage to nearby rock art.
But the area, also known as Murujuga, is home to the world's oldest and largest collection of petroglyphs, with Murujuga National Park currently under application to receive World Heritage status.
A spokesperson for Ms Ley said the application was denied because she was not satisfied the cultural site was under a serious and immediate threat of injury or desecration, with proposed works scheduled to begin in late May.
"It is the view of the Western Australian government that works to relocate the petroglyphs will not be undertaken in the coming weeks," the spokesperson said.
Under federal heritage laws, the environment minister has the power to intervene in developments by making an "emergency declaration" to protect significant Aboriginal sites from threats.
Perdaman chairman Vikas Rambal has previously told the ABC his project's emissions would have a negligible impact on rock art.
Custodians to try again
Kuruma Marduthenera custodian Josie Alec said she was disappointed but not surprised by the application's rejection.
"It is the procedure — we've just got to take that Perdaman said they're not doing work for another month," she said.
Ms Alec said another application asking the minister to make an emergency declaration would be made next month, closer to the date when works were expected to commence.
"We've got another month or so before they do that work and we're not going to let out," she said.
"We're not going to give up. We're going to do everything in our power that we can to make it a fair procedure for us to get that rock art not moved."
Ms Alec said it was important to continue to the fight, particularly for future generations.
"It's for the rock art, it is for the environment out there and it is, of course, for our cultural heritage as well so it can be shared instead of just desecrated," she said.
