Sustainable development and protecting the indigenous heritage sites in Australia: striking a balance

• Main Author: Ahmad, Muhamad Hassan
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: G Geography (General); GN Anthropology; K Law (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/85871/1/SUSTAINABLE%20DEVELOPMENT%20AND%20PROTECTING%20THE%20INDIGENOUS%20HERITAGE%20SITES%20IN%20AUSTRALIA%20STRIKING%20A%20BALANCE.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/85871/

In May 2020, two 46000-year-old caves or rock-shelters, at Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia, were blown up by Rio Tinto - one of the world’s largest metals and mining corporation producing iron ore, copper, diamonds, gold and uranium. The heritage site has strong and significant historical, cultural and spiritual importance to the land owners, i.e. the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) peoples of Pilbara Region. Some archeologists considered the site as “Home to the Dawn of Humanity” and, therefore, these two caves at Juukan Gorge can be even categorised as the “World Heritage”. Undeniably, the need for the development is necessary and it needs to be done in the most sustainable way known to mankind. By taking into consideration of interests of all the stakeholders of the past, present and future, several recommendations are proposed in this presentation: “to do the right thing, in the right way”.