The Federal Minister for Sustainability, Tony Burke, has released the final national heritage assessment of the West Kimberly region by the Australian Heritage Council (AHC).

 

The Australian Heritage Council found that there are a number of potential natural and cultural heritage values in the west Kimberley, including significant sites of Indigenous heritage and natural beauty.

 

The Indigenous sites include Wanjina creator beings, ancestors, plants and animals in rock shelters and caves - considered one of the longest and most complex 'rock art' sequences anywhere in the world.

 

The Council also found the Devonian reef to have outstanding heritage value for its association with Jandamarra, whose campaign of resistance was unprecedented in Australian history.

 

The Council also found that the Dampier Coast dinosaur tracks are among the best and most extensive evidence of dinosaurs from the western half of the continent, include some of the largest footprints found anywhere in the world.

 

The Australian Heritage Council's assessment is available at http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/west-kimberley/.

 

A final decision on the proposed listing is due by August 30 2011.