A company's decision to pause construction of a $4.5 billion fertiliser plant has given traditional owners hope in their bid to have the project stopped altogether.
Perdaman recently received final state approval for a urea plant in the Pilbara but has agreed not to start works while it continues talks with traditional owners.
Kuruma Marduthunera woman Josie Alec, who has been campaigning against the development on the Burrup Peninsular, said the decision had given her hope.
"We have an environment to think about and we have our future generations to think about."
Ms Alec has also been lobbying Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to use her powers under heritage laws to intervene in the project.
"I have received a request for a Section 9 declaration under the Act which I am carefully considering," Ms Plibersek said in a statement.
"This is a legal process.
"As such it's important that I consider the application without bias and without making public comment."
Perdaman has plans to convert gas, supplied by Woodside's Scarborough project, into an estimated 2 million tonnes of urea fertiliser each year.
The site where the company has been authorised to start clearing land for the plant is also home to the world's largest collection of ancient rock art and has been nominated for World Heritage status.
Pause welcomed by development body
Regional Development Australia Pilbara chief executive Tony Simpson said Perdaman's decision to pause construction, was the "right move".
"I think it's very important that we get all the checks and measures in place," Mr Simpson said.
"On these types of projects you only get one opportunity to do it and I think it's the right thing to do.
Mr Simpson said while the pause could affect the timeline of the project, it was more important to ensure proper processes were followed.
"It may hold it up, but 40,000 year old rock art is more important, so a little bit longer will make sure it's done right," Mr Simpson said.
Perdaman has declined to comment.
