The balance between major industry and ancient cultural heritage in a small corner of Western Australia's north is once again under the microscope.
In September, federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek appointed an independent reporter to look into claims that significant Aboriginal sites are under threat due to continued industrialisation on the Burrup Peninsula, near Karratha in the Pilbara region.
The area is home to more than a million pieces of sacred rock art, and independent reporter Alison Stone will consider whether it is worthy of a ministerial declaration to protect it.
For Ngarluma woman Samantha Walker, the arrival of Ms Stone on her country last week presents an opportunity for many local people to have their first say on the issue.
"To feel the importance of my country … I need you to come, smell, feel and taste it while it's still here," she said.
"We don't need more factories. Enough is enough."
The Pilbara is known for its lucrative iron ore industry, but Ms Stone's focus is the towering gas and chemical manufacturing operations on the Burrup.
The peninsula, called Murujuga in local language, is the site of the Yara Pilbara fertiliser plant and Australia's largest liquefied natural gas producer, Woodside.
Meanwhile, there are plans for a new fertiliser facility owned by multinational group Perdaman, which would see the art moved off the Burrup.
There are two key issues at the centre of the discussion, namely to what extent the companies' emissions have damaged the rock art, and whether the rock art should be moved to facilitate the Perdaman plant.
Concerns have also been raised about access to sacred sites, and "visual desecration" caused by a proposed bank of solar panels connected to Yara's operations.
Ms Stone visited the Pilbara for the second time last week to meet with all parties.
She will investigate the area's significance, the claimed threats to heritage, if current protections are sufficient and whether Ms Plibersek should step in.
The socio-economic impact of intervention will also be considered.
Activist campaign
Ms Stone is operating under section 10 of the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act.
The process was kickstarted by a successful campaign from the traditional owner group Save our Songlines, who are adamant that industrial emissions are damaging the rock art.
Save Our Songlines said 732 people have made submissions to Ms Stone in support of their campaign.
Mardudunera woman and campaign leader Raelene Cooper said she is proud of the momentum.
"I am surprised with the attention that this whole campaign has got. We've got to step up to the plate … this is for our future of our families, and for everybody," she said.
Ms Walker said any disturbance to the art or the broader peninsula would harm the spiritual wellbeing of her people.
"[The rock art is] significant, they have deep meaning to me," she said.
"It has wow factor, it's beautiful. Come and meet the people — we'll tell you nothing but the truth."
Earlier this year, Save Our Songlines unsuccessfully lobbied Ms Plibersek to prevent Perdaman's plans from progressing under section 9 of the act.
TO group supports inquiry
Ms Plibersek did not act under section 9 to block the Perdaman plant. She made the ruling based on the views of the democratically elected and legally constituted traditional owner group, the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC).
But she did agree to a review under section 10 of the act.
MAC does not have authority to block development in the Burrup's industrial zone but, in a statement, chief executive Peter Jeffries said the group supported the section 10 assessment and would take part.
"Coexistence on country is dependent on having robust legislative and practical mechanisms in place to ensure that significant heritage and cultural values are protected despite the proximity of industry," he said.
"We hope the current section 10 review process will help clarify and strengthen some of the legislative heritage protections we rely upon to protect Murujuga."
The ABC has previously reported that MAC warned the federal government they were "extremely concerned" Perdaman's plant would put sacred sites at risk.
Studies offer different results
The effects of industrial emissions on rock art has been studied multiple times, with a range of results delivered.
University of Western Australia archaeology expert Benjamin Smith said there is scientific consensus showing emissions such as nitrogen oxides have an acidic effect that destroys the art.
He said new research he helped publish earlier this month included the first photographic evidence of the art being damaged since industry arrived on the Burrup in the 1960s.
Photographs of 26 pieces of rock art, or petroglyphs, taken prior to or early in the industrialisation process were compared with recent pictures. Professor Smith said 50 per cent of them had changed.
"It's irreversible. Once those rock surfaces start to degrade, there's nothing one can do," he said.
"We have to stop the acidity getting on to the rocks."
This is disputed by the companies that operate on the Burrup.
Yara has commissioned its own research, which environment and quality manager Ty Hibberd said did not show any degradation of rock art near the company's plant.
The WA government launched its own monitoring program alongside MAC in 2019, which was jointly funded by Woodside, Yara and iron ore giant Rio Tinto.
"I can't speak to the recent research that has been released. We will continue to support [the government's] program and await the outcomes of those studies," Dr Hibberd said.
Woodside also backed the government's monitoring and said previous research did not prove LNG production was damaging the rock art.
"[The government] is establishing a world best-practice program to monitor, evaluate and report on factors that could affect the condition of the rock art," a Woodside spokesperson said.
"The photographic methodology used [by Professor Smith] is not a reliable means of determining such changes."
Yara and Woodside are both expected to make submissions to Ms Stone's inquiry. Both companies have said they take their heritage responsibilities seriously.
Perdaman declined to comment.
'I'm up for it'
The Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said Ms Stone was not available for comment.
Public submissions are open until November 30, but a department spokesperson said there is no statutory time frame for the process and an outcome is not expected this year.
The WA government will also make a submission.
If her campaign is unsuccessful, Ms Cooper did not rule out further challenges to major industry on the Burrup.
"I'm not really going to say too much. But if it comes to court appeals and court hearings well look, I'm up for it."
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