'Unreasonable' delay in decision to protect rock art

Traditional Owners have been waiting for more than three-and-a-half years for a Murujuga decision. (HANDOUT/SAVE OUR SONGLINES)

The federal environment minister has taken an unreasonably long time to assess two Traditional Owners' application to protect Indigenous rock art near a gas plant, a judge says.

But Murray Watt won't be ordered by the Federal Court to make a decision concerning an an area of sacred sites and rock engravings in northwest Western Australia, despite a delay of more than three-and-a-half years.