The Future of World Heritage in Australia
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Keeping the Outstanding Exceptional: The Future of World Heritage in Australia Editors: Penelope Figgis, Andrea Leverington, Richard Mackay, Andrew Maclean, Peter Valentine Editors: Penelope Figgis, Andrea Leverington, Richard Mackay, Andrew Maclean, Peter Valentine Published by: Australian Committee for IUCN Inc. Copyright: © 2013 Copyright in compilation and published edition: Australian Committee for IUCN Inc. Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: Figgis, P., Leverington, A., Mackay, R., Maclean, A., Valentine, P. (eds). (2012). Keeping the Outstanding Exceptional: The Future of World Heritage in Australia. Australian Committee for IUCN, Sydney. ISBN: 978-0-9871654-2-8 Design/Layout: Pixeldust Design 21 Lilac Tree Court Beechmont, Queensland Australia 4211 Tel: +61 437 360 812 [email protected] Printed by: Finsbury Green Pty Ltd 1A South Road Thebarton, South Australia Australia 5031 Available from: Australian Committee for IUCN P.O Box 528 Sydney 2001 Tel: +61 416 364 722 [email protected] http://www.aciucn.org.au http://www.wettropics.qld.gov.au Cover photo: Two great iconic Australian World Heritage Areas - The Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef meet in the Daintree region of North Queensland © Photo: K. Trapnell Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the chapter authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors, the Australian Committee for IUCN, the Wet Tropics Management Authority or the Australian Conservation Foundation or those of financial supporter the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Australian Committee for IUCN, the Wet Tropics Management Authority or the Australian Conservation Foundation or the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Keeping the Outstanding Exceptional: The Future of World Heritage in Australia Editors: Penelope Figgis, Andrea Leverington, Richard Mackay, Andrew Maclean, Peter Valentine i Acknowledgements In tribute Partners Our publication celebrates the lands and seas of We thank the Wet Tropics Management Authority for Australia, the beauty and wonder of this great southern their partnership with the Australian Committee of IUCN continent whose unique plants, animals and geology are in initiating and hosting the major national event to the product of evolution over billions of years. acknowledge the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. In particular the work of Andrew Maclean We pay respect to elders past and present who, and Ellen Weber are warmly acknowledged. We also through their reverence for the land and sea and its thank the Australian Conservation Foundation for wealth of living things, have shaped and nurtured the assistance with funding and the Members of the places we now honour with the global recognition of Organising Committee who shaped the Symposium World Heritage. and who also shaped the Communique which was put We also honour and thank the thousands of peoples to the Symposium. from all backgrounds who have valued, championed and defended the rich heritage of Australia, its ancient Authors and photographers land forms, its ‘jewel seas’, its distinctive rich wildlife We thank the chapter authors for their thought- and plants and the culture and rights of the world’s provoking contributions to both the symposium and to oldest continuing people. the publication. We also thank the many photographers who contributed photographs to enhance the Project coordinators and editors publication and help celebrate World Heritage. Penelope Figgis AO, Director, Australian Committee for IUCN Funding Dr. Andrea Leverington, Particular thanks are due to the Australian Government Director, Protected Area Solutions Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities for the major funding of Prof. Richard Mackay AM, the publication. Chair Australian World Heritage Advisory Committee, Partner, Godden Mackay Logan Pty Ltd and Adjunct Professor La Trobe University Andrew Maclean, Director, Wet Tropics Management Authority Assoc. Prof. Peter Valentine, James Cook University ii Regina Woolla from Aurukun at the Laura Dance festival. from Regina Woolla Photo © Kerry Trapnell Will we pass on to future generations the ancient cultural and natural heritage of Australia? iii Contents Foreword Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Sustainability Environment, Water, Population and Communities 6 World Heritage Leadership Hon. Tony Burke MP, Australia’s World Heritage - Keeping the Outstanding Exceptional 8 Hon. Andrew Powell MP, Minister for Environment and Heritage, Queensland Queensland’s Commitment to the World Heritage Convention 14 Chrissy Grant, Indigenous people and World Heritage: the Benefits, Opportunities and Challenges 20 Don Henry and Denise Boyd, Celebrating the role of World Heritage in Australia’s environmental and cultural history 30 Paul Murphy, Australia’s achievements and legacy on the World Heritage Committee 36 Prof. Richard Mackay AM, Setting Best Practice Standards for World Heritage Management 42 International Perspectives on the Convention Kristal Buckley AM, International and Regional Perspective on the State of World Heritage 48 Peter Shadie, Strategic Issues for World Heritage: some IUCN and personal perspectives 54 Maintaining the Outstanding Universal Value of Australia’s World Heritage Areas: The Manager’s Perspective Hala Razian and Kathy Zischka, Managing World Heritage in Australia: trends, issues and achievements 60 Peter Cochrane, Managing Australia’s World Heritage in Kakadu National Park and Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park 66 Tony Fleming and Sandra Potter, Protecting Icy Islands – The Territory of Heard and McDonald Islands World Heritage Area 72 Andrew Maclean, Managing the Outstanding Universal Value of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area 76 Angie Stringer, Managing Fraser Island World Heritage Area 82 Jess Mann, World Heritage in Western Australia 88 Jacqueline Reid, Managing Australia’s World Heritage in the Greater Blue Mountains 96 Richard Mintern, Managing Australia’s World Heritage in the Willandra Lakes Region 102 Tricia Waters, Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area – remnants of our primeval past 108 Deborah Craven-Carden and Angie Stringer, The Australian Fossil Mammal Sites - Naracoorte and Riversleigh 112 iv Keeping the Outstanding Exceptional: Key Questions and Expert Responses Jon Day, Operationalising the Outstanding Universal Value of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area: addressing some challenges raised by the World Heritage Committee 118 Penelope Figgis AO, Managing Australia’s World Heritage: A Summary of Key Questions and Expert Reponses 128 World Heritage and the Community Leah Talbot, Engaging Indigenous Communities in World Heritage declarations: processes and practice 134 Dr. Rosemary Hill, Bringing the community into World Heritage through biocultural diversity: issues and policy implications 140 Stephen Wills, Engaging the community as volunteers for Management – the Case of Lord Howe Island World Heritage Area 146 Dr. Lea Scherl, World Heritage Areas in the life of communities: An analysis from the Wet Tropics of Queensland 152 Allison Halliday, Hank Horton and Alastair Birtles, The Role and Importance of the Australian World Heritage Indigenous Network (AWHIN) in achieving Best Practice Management of World Heritage in Australia 158 Peter Mooney, Community Involvement in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area 164 Karen Vohland, Community Engagement and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area 170 Communicating and presenting World Heritage Daniel Gschwind, Valuing our iconic heritage areas: how the industry can support keeping the outstanding exceptional 176 Hilary Schofield, Australia’s National Landscapes Program – Promoting our World Heritage Icons 180 John Sinclair, Fraser Island: a personal view of ‘presenting’ World Heritage 186 Lisa King, Communicating the World Heritage brand: Building appreciation and commitment to the concept 192 The Future of Australia’s World Heritage Dr. Geoff Mosley AM, Australia’s World Heritage Nominations – What are our missing icons and what can be done to resume progress? 198 Jessey Reid, Voice of the Future: What does World Heritage mean to a young Australian? 204 Assoc. Prof. Peter Valentine, The Future of World Heritage in Australia 208 The Cairns Communique A statement of key principles for the future management of Australia’s World Heritage 214 v Foreword The Hon Tony Burke MP Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities This year, 2012 marks the in managing the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef 40th anniversary of the Marine Park World Heritage Area. Meeting this adoption of the Convention challenge will not be easy and will require a long-term Concerning the Protection commitment and it is a commitment the government is of the World