A former chair of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, an organisation made up of five language groups that takes the central role in negotiating with industry and government over the future of the site, was part of a group of 27 custodians who wrote an open letter this year seeking Woodside pause all Burrup developments until “free, prior and informed consent” was given.

Mardudhunera custodian Raelene Cooper said Woodside had ignored its calls and selectively engaged with Aboriginal corporations compromised by industry funding and gag clauses, which did not represent those who wanted to protect their culture.

“After all the concern around the destruction of Juukan Gorge, we are outraged that the same laws are still being used to enable the destruction of our Murujuga Ngurra – the world’s largest and oldest outdoor art gallery with deep and continuing spiritual significance to our people,” she said.

A Woodside spokeswoman told WAtoday in March that extensive surveys conducted with Traditional Owners showed the construction of its projects would not impact any rock art.

She said the company respected diverse views within the community and was pleased with the level of support it had.

Cooper and Kuruma Marduthunera woman Josie Alec are in Geneva this week to talk to the United Nations’ expert mechanism on the rights of Indigenous peoples about impacts to Murujuga by industry including the removal of rock art when infrastructure was built on the peninsula.

In a speech on Tuesday to the expert mechanism, which provides advice to the UN’s Human Rights Council, Cooper said Traditional Owners were silenced by gag clauses in a 2003 agreement with the state government over the land.

“We are here to pass down knowledge for a better understanding of First Nations history and for the protection of Mother Earth and all her people,” she said.

“In conclusion Mr Chair, I make the recommendation that the free, prior and informed consent of First Nations custodians be guaranteed through active consultation about any new industry on our Country.”

The recent EPA report, which is open for appeals until July 21, recommended Woodside prove its emissions are not accelerating the fading and weathering of the rock art.

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The watchdog also wanted to see alternative locations used for future industrial developments in the region rather than on the peninsula, such as a nearby industrial estate.

Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation has welcomed conditions suggested by the EPA that would require them to be consulted when the company submitted and reviewed management plans for key environmental factors.

The corporation’s chief executive Peter Jeffries said while it agreed with the EPA suggestion that alternative locations should be considered for new developments on the Burrup, there were already strategic industrial areas on the peninsula identified through an agreement with the state government.

“We will continue to negotiate with the state government about what is appropriate for those locations,” he said.

Jeffries said there was a preference from the corporation to see any offsets needed for the North West Shelf project to be developed locally with Traditional Owners.

“MAC wants to see a broader strategic approach for the protection of Murujuga land and sea country, including adequate assessments of the cumulative impacts to the airshed and the marine environment and appropriate management strategies that respond holistically to the needs of country,” he said.

“Beyond offsets, MAC would also like to see opportunities for research and development projects that improve the resilience of Murujuga Country to respond to the impacts of climate change.

“MAC considers that it has a significant role in ensuring that the environmental and cultural values are protected.”

WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby said last week gas would be a transitional energy as the world shifted to renewables, but he understood the importance of decarbonisation.

“It’s absolutely fundamental to where we need to be, as you know we’re transitioning out of coal and then the next energy source to transition out will be gas,” he said.

“But I think there will be a period of transition for providing that firm backup power that is needed while we wait for technology to increase in batteries or possibly pumped hydro.

“My ambition is to decarbonise as quickly as possible.”