Call for Minister to act on World Heritage in Danger.

ABC Alice Springs Breakfast Radio Producer Justin Fenwick spoke with Ms Nisha of UNESCO about what it would mean if the Park was declared a World Heritage in Danger Site. It seems likely that Parks Australia have not followed the proper procedures and risk placing World Heritage in the Park in danger. I have called on the Minister to suspend any plans to remove or destroy climbing infrastructure until UNESCO can complete its assessment.

Map in 1987 World Heritage Nomination showing summit path and lookout

Page 3 of the 1987 World Heritage Nomination in which the summit views are described.

Dear Minister,

I refer to revelations that were broadcast on ABC Alice Springs breakfast radio that indicate UNESCO were not properly consulted about the impact banning the Ayers Rock Climb and proposed destruction of climbing infrastructure (including the summit monument, chain and memorial plaques) would have on the 1987 World Heritage Agreement. The summit path and summit lookout are included in the nomination documents and the ban and destroying the monuments places this World Heritage in Danger. I call on the minister and the government to suspend destruction of the items so UNESCO can properly assess the impact. The minister has the power to do this under the act.

In the 1987 nomination, the summit views are described in the following way:

The Park is of great national and international significance. The huge monoliths of Uluru and Kata Tjuta are remarkable geological and landform features, set in a contrasting relatively flat sand plain environment. Distant ranges, especially to the south and west, and Mt Connor to the east highlight the scenic grandeur of the monoliths and create a landscape of outstanding beauty to both Aboriginal and white Australian culture. Views of the ranges which lie outside the boundaries of the Park (as does Mt Connor) add to the visual experience of the visitor. in addition, however, they form part of the land system of which the Park is an integral part. They also provide the visitor with visual illustrations of the extent of Aboriginal religious geography which relates land within the Park to land beyond its boundaries. Without question the Park contains outstanding scenery and a unique diversity of environmental values. In addition the Park and features within it are of great on-going religious and cultural significance to Aboriginal people in central Australia. Uluru (the Pitjantjatjara name for a rockhole located at Ayers Rock) is the most distinctive landscape symbol of Australia, both nationally and internationally. Images of Uluru are often used within Australia and overseas as the symbol of the Australian landscape.

Clearly the summit views, the track and summit monument (lookout) are all included in the Heritage Listing, and they are significant to both Aboriginal and White Australian culture, and other cultures internationally. Destruction of these features will place our World Heritage in Danger. If the government do not act they sell out the heritage of all of us.

Complete Radio interview featuring comments by Steven Baldwin (Park Ranger), Ms Nisha - UNESCO and Marc Hendrickx available via ABC (from about 2:04).

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Right to Climb

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