Thousands of Aboriginal artworks are at risk of being destroyed or severely damaged by an uranium mine fire in the NT, according to an Aboriginal corporation.
The fire that began in Ranger last week is spreading toward Kakadu National Park – the home of various plant species, native wildlife and indigenous artwork from prehistoric times.
Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Justin O’Brien, has warned that more needs to be done to stop the fire from reaching the significant cultural sites with artwork and structures of up to 50,000 years old.
“We’re talking hundreds of galleries and thousands of images.”
Justin O’Brien, Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation CEO
“This is also one of the most cultural sites within the region. It’s quite serious.”
.@ERARangerMine fire spreads to #Kakadu National Park, threatens Indigenous cultural sites http://t.co/AoybtmT7e2 pic.twitter.com/qP3xqu0bAg
— abcnewsNT (@abcnewsNT) October 5, 2015
One of Kakadu National Park’s most significant sites, Nourlangie Rock, has been closed to tourists for two days now and O’Brien says he’s concerned that once the fire reaches the waterless part of the country, it would be harder to extinguish, ABC Online reported.
“There is no water in there, you can’t get suppression in there from the air, you can’t get boots on the ground in that country, it’s too rugged,” he explained.
“All you can do is wait for it to put itself out. That’s not acceptable.”
O’Brien is calling for Energy Resources Australia (ERA), the mine company that was burning weeds in the area last week, to pay for the cost of firefighting and do everything possible to protect the local art, fauna and flora.
“Nourlangie rock tourist site has shut down and rare species are threatened in the escarpment country,” he continued.
“Possibly culturally significant sites of great antiquity have been destroyed… They must take responsibility and they must pay.” Read more here.
