GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

About World Heritage

The Western Australian Government recognises the Traditional Owners and custodians of Murujuga; the past, present and future generations of Ngarda-Ngarli, and their ongoing connection to this sacred country.

What is the World Heritage List? How are places added to the World Heritage List? The World Heritage List is comprised of places throughout the world Places are added to the World Heritage List only after independent that have ‘Outstanding Universal Value’. This means that the cultural assessment demonstrates that they represent the greatest of the and/or natural heritage values of these places are ‘so exceptional world’s natural and/or cultural heritage and have an adequate as to transcend national boundaries’ and are ‘of common management framework in place to protect and manage it. importance for present and future generations of all humanity’ 1. • The first step is to have the place added to Australia’s World There are currently 1092 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List2. Heritage Tentative List. This is a list of places Australia intends to

Murujuga World Heritage Nomination World Murujuga These include the Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Stonehenge and nominate to the World Heritage List and is registered with the Grand Canyon National Park. UNESCO World Heritage Centre3. Australia has 19 World Heritage sites, including the Great Barrier • Countries then prepare a comprehensive nomination dossier Reef, Sydney Opera House and Kakadu National Park. that demonstrates that the place may have ‘Outstanding Universal Value’. The nomination must address certain criteria There are currently four World Heritage Sites in Western Australia: and demonstrate that the boundary is adequate to capture the Purnululu National Park, Shark Bay and the Ningaloo Coast, which values of the area. are listed for their natural values, and the Fremantle Prison which is listed for its cultural value as part of a serial listing of the Australian • The nomination is submitted to UNESCO’s World Heritage Convict Sites. Centre by the Australian Government. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is • The nomination is then assessed by an independent technical responsible for the day-to-day management of the three natural advisory body and relevant experts. For cultural nominations World Heritage sites in Western Australia. The Department of the independent advisory body is the International Council on Planning, Lands and Heritage is responsible for managing the Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The assessment process takes Fremantle Prison. at least one year.

1 The definition of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ is outlined in the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. 2 UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, number of sites current as at 24 April 2019. 3 The World Heritage Centre is the focal point and coordinator within UNESCO for all matters related to World Heritage. 2019_202 0519_2M Murujuga World Heritage Nomination boundary and management framework inplaceto andmanagementframework protect itsvalues. boundary anddemonstratingthatthere criteria isanadequate addressing certain must justifyindetailthe ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ ofthearea by The nomination dossierisa far more comprehensive documentthat thenominationdossieris.like for complianceagainst the prescribed format, itisnotassessed the World Centre Heritage checkseach Tentative ListSubmission management measures inplace, orrequired, to protect it. While the potential ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ ofanarea, andthe consultationwithstakeholders, andresearchpreliminary into The Tentative Listingprocess isbeneficialbecauseitinitiates considered to beof ‘Outstanding Universal Value’. is usedto justifywhyessentially anexecutive aproperty summary by UNESCO. The Tentative ListSubmissionismuchshorter; documents thatmustbecompleted informats prescribed a formal World nomination,althoughbothare Heritage technical for the Tentative Listdoesnotrequire thesamelevel ofdetailas Value’ andmay decideto nominate infuture years. Asubmission 5 considerstowhich eachState be of Party ‘Outstanding Universal The World Heritage Tentative ofproperties Listisaninventory Submission andthenomination dossier? What isthedifference between the Tentative List Value’.Universal their ‘Outstanding placesdonotdemonstrate important sometimes internationally onthe isinscribed nominated property World List, Heritage every The assessmentprocess isrigorous anddemanding, andnot • 6 5 4 inscribed onthe inscribed World List. Heritage State Parties are suchasAustralia countries thathave ratifiedthe Convention. Heritage World The World Committee Heritage isresponsible for theimplementationof World Convention is Heritage and hasthefinalsay onwhetheraproperty The National Heritage ListisAustralia’sThe NationalHeritage placesofoutstandingsignificance listofnatural, to thenation. andIndigenous historic Committee is seeking more Committee information before isseeking itsdecision. itmakes thenominationisdeferredlist thenomination.If orreferred, the List. Heritage The Committee candecideto list, defer, refer ornot onthe willbeinscribed decide whichnominated properties World The UNESCO World Committee Heritage 4 meetsonceayear to pws.dbca.wa.gov.au/murujuga. the nominationprocess. To register for updates, pleasevisit Australian involvement Government welcomes stakeholder in The Aboriginal andthe Corporation Murujuga Western How canIbeinvolved inthenomination? programs. placesin Heritage Western Australia through itsagenciesand Government provides fundingfor themanagementof World and some World Australian Government provides fundingto protect andmanage or funding to individualcountries World places. Heritage The The UNESCO World Centre Heritage doesnotdirectly provide Is fundingprovided to World Heritageplaces? andeconomicbenefits. business andemployment opportunities have received increased visitation. tourist This hasfostered new Australia, In World placesare Heritage strongly promoted, andmany for theplaceandsurrounding regions.opportunities placesareHeritage avaluableresource andcangenerate economic many benefits for nationsand for localcommunities. World onthe ofaproperty World Listcanproduce Inscription Heritage present andfuture generations. forand nationallevels to protect andmanagetheproperty World acommitmentatlocal, Listingalsobrings state Heritage exceptional valuesofthesite. to celebrate, through events, community theoutstandingand communities isimportant. This recognition provides opportunities and exceptional features ofthelisted site, whichfor many ofaplace. importance theoutstanding The statusconfirms World Listingisthehighestglobalrecognition Heritage ofthe ofbeingplacedBenefits onthe World HeritageList 6 places.National Heritage The Western Australian WESTERN GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA

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