Program: Murujuga Rock Art

The department has primary responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of the strategy in partnership with MAC. This includes working with MAC to oversee the development and implementation of a world’s best practice monitoring and analysis program that will determine whether the rock art on Murujuga is subject to accelerated change.

The scope of this strategy is to:

1. establish an environmental quality management framework, including the derivation and implementation of environmental quality criteria
2. develop and implement a robust program of monitoring and analysis to determine whether change is occurring to the rock art on Murujuga
3. identify and commission scientific studies to support the implementation of the monitoring and analysis program and management
4. establish governance arrangements to ensure that:
   • monitoring, analysis and reporting are undertaken in such a way as to provide confidence to Traditional Owners, the community, industry, scientists and other stakeholders about the integrity, robustness, repeatability and reliability of the monitoring data and results
   • government is provided with accurate and appropriate recommendations regarding the protection of the rock art, consistent with legislative responsibilities
5. develop and implement a communication strategy in consultation with stakeholders. 

A best practice monitoring and analysis program commenced in 2020. It is providing reliable information on changes and trends in the condition of the rock art and whether the rock art is showing signs of accelerated change. There are two phases of the program, which are broadly referred to as the research (monitoring studies) and the ongoing monitoring program.

The program includes:

• air quality monitoring across Murujuga
• regular field measurements of selected rock art panels using a variety of methods
• detailed laboratory investigation of rock samples, including the microorganisms living on the rock surface.

The results from these studies will guide management and protection of the rock art. Reports produced as part of the program are regularly published in the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy document collection. 

The program is overseen by the department and MAC, in consultation with national and international subject matter experts, a panel of independent peer reviewers and stakeholders.

MAC has developed the Murujuga Research Protocols as a set of governing principles and guidelines to ensure research is conducted in a respectful and culturally appropriate manner.

The program is being implemented by WSP and experts from Curtin University until 2026. Curtin University has also developed a training program for MAC Rangers to build their skills and knowledge in monitoring and analysis techniques. Once Rangers are qualified, MAC will be well placed to implement the monitoring from 2026 onwards.

Conceptual models of the rock art system were published in 2021 to share the current understanding of the system and interactions that are likely to be occurring. These models inform the development of the monitoring studies plans and the development of an environmental quality management framework.

The monitoring studies data collection and analysis plan, published in April 2022, is crucial to the design of the program, and the scope and quality of the science to monitor, evaluate and report on changes and trends in the integrity of the rock art on Murujuga.

The Year 2 Monitoring Studies Technical Report and Interim Environmental Quality Criteria (EQC) Report were published in May 2025, following an independent peer review process. View the Research Summary Year 2. 

View all reports from the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program.

The Murujuga Rock Art Stakeholder Reference Group is an advisory group that was established by the previous Minister for Environment, Hon. Stephen Dawson MLC, in September 2018. The group facilitates engagement between the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation (MAC) and key government, industry and community representatives on the development and implementation of the strategy.

Professor Stephen van Leeuwen is the independent chair of the stakeholder reference group. Visit the document collection to read summaries of meetings and community forums.

The Terms of Reference are reviewed regularly in consultation with MAC and the Independent Chair to ensure the group remains effective in achieving its purpose.

To contact the stakeholder reference group, email murujugarockartsrg@dwer.wa.gov.au.

Over the past 15 years there have been many scientific studies conducted and reports produced regarding the potential for industrial emissions to impact on Murujuga’s rock art. The previous monitoring, undertaken by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) between 2004 and 2016, focused on the colour change and spectral mineralogy of the rock art on Murujuga.

Independent reviews commissioned by the State Government have recognised that improvements can be made to ensure that monitoring programs and other studies provide robust, reliable results to inform management. This advice has been carefully considered in the development of the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program.

You can view previous monitoring reports in the document collection. Chapter 2 of the monitoring studies data collection and analysis plan includes an evaluation of previous studies and data.

This section provides responses to frequently asked questions about the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy and monitoring program.

What are the main findings of the Year 2 Report?  

The Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program is the most extensive scientific study to examine the impact of industrial air emissions on the rock art at Murujuga. The data collected provides an important information source on air quality and rock art condition. This information has been subject to careful analysis by expert scientists and statisticians as well as independent peer review.

A summary of the second year of research and results can be found in the Research Summary: Year 2.  

What are the roles of the key organisations involved in the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy?

• Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation: MAC represents the five language groups who are the custodians of Murujuga Country. MAC, in partnership with the department, leads the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy and monitoring program. The Murujuga Circle of Elders provides cultural authority for the project, including cultural approvals of monitoring locations and methods. The Murujuga Rangers work with the project consultant team to deliver all fieldwork and will take greater responsibility for the fieldwork through to 2026, at which point MAC will undertake all monitoring and other fieldwork.
• Department of Water and Environmental Regulation: The department, in partnership with MAC, leads the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy and monitoring program. The department supports MAC in the implementation and MAC’s aspirations to lead the technical elements of the strategy. The department is also responsible for regulation of industry under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act).
• Consultants: WSP (formerly Calibre) and Curtin University deliver the project management and scientific studies, respectively. The consultant teams are currently leading the training of the Murujuga Rangers and will hand over the project management and fieldwork roles to MAC once the monitoring program is established.
• Independent peer reviewers: All scientific plans and reports are reviewed by independent experts who are leaders in their fields, including heritage management, organic and inorganic geochemistry, data analysis and air emissions.

What are EQC, and what do they mean for Murujuga’s rock art?  

Environmental Quality Criteria (EQC) are risk-based benchmarks for air quality monitoring data. The EQC sit within an Environmental Quality Management Framework (EQMF), that is set out in the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy. The scientists have recommended interim EQC for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ammonia (NH₃).  

Now that we have interim EQC, ongoing monitoring will continue to ensure air quality is maintained at levels that protect the rock art. 

The interim EQC will be refined and finalised over the final two years of research, as the program transitions to ongoing monitoring.

How is the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy funded?

There are two sources of funding for the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy.

The major industrial emitters on Murujuga Country provide funding to State Government to allow the implementation of the monitoring program. Funding responsibility is sourced from industry partners based upon levels of emissions and will be revised throughout the monitoring program. Currently funding is provided by Woodside Energy, Rio Tinto and Yara Pilbara under an agreement with the department.

The State Government separately funds implementation of other elements of the strategy, including a partnership and funding agreement with MAC, independent peer reviews and the Murujuga Rock Art Stakeholder Reference Group.

What is the connection with World Heritage listing?

The World Heritage nomination for Murujuga includes a comprehensive and effective management framework that outlines how the potential ‘Outstanding Universal Value’ of the area will be protected, conserved and monitored. As part of this framework, the State Government and MAC are demonstrating how they are working closely together to protect the rock art through the Murujuga Rock Art Strategy and the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program.

The DBCA website has more information on the World Heritage nomination.