Protecting heritage values on Cape York Peninsula
For many years the Queensland Government and the community have taken steps to protect Cape York Peninsula’s world-class natural and cultural heritage.
In 1995, the Queensland and federal governments initiated the Cape York Peninsula Land Use Study (CYPLUS). CYPLUS and subsequent studies resulted reports highlighting the natural and cultural heritage values of Cape York Peninsula, including:
- Cape York Peninsula Land Use Study (CYPLUS) – Stage 1 (PDF, 8.4M)*
- The Natural Heritage Significance of Cape York Peninsula by Brendan Mackey, Henry Nix & Peter Hitchcock 2001 (PDF, 4.3M)*
- Compiling a case for World Heritage by Associate Professor Peter Valentine, James Cook University 2006 (PDF, 1.7M)*.
This was followed by the historic 1996 Cape York Heads of Agreement which proposed a management regime for ecologically, economically, socially and culturally sustainable land use on the Cape York Peninsula. The Queensland Government became a signatory to the Heads of Agreement in 2001.
On 2 November 2007, the Queensland Government passed the Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007 that established a process for identifying and declaring areas of international conservation significance, which could be considered for World Heritage nomination.
In 2008, two advisory committees were appointed: the Cape York Peninsula Regional Advisory Committee and the Cape York Peninsula Region Scientific and Cultural Advisory Committee. These committees advise on the identification of areas of international conservation significance. They have met on a number of occasions and provided advice to the Minister for Environment, the Minister for Finance, Natural Resources and The Arts, and the Minister for Energy and Water Utilities.
In 2008, a document titled Pathways to Securing Cultural and Natural Heritage of International Conservation Significance on Cape York Peninsula (PDF, 188K)* was prepared by Peter Valentine and Dermot Smyth to provide options and discussion on the methods of assessment, engagement process and gaps in information relating to the World Heritage criteria.
The two advisory committees have also overseen the development of a series of desktop overview reports on the cultural and natural values of Cape York Peninsula.
Reports include:
- Review of properties nominated for inscription on the World Heritage List under the Cultural Landscapes category by Anita Smith, La Trobe University 2011 (PDF, 1.1M)*
- The Landscapes of Cape York Peninsula and Their Heritage Values (PDF, 1.1M)*
- Cape York Peninsula Ornithological Story (PDF, 860K)*
- Management Arrangements for potential World Heritage Listing for Cape York Peninsula (PDF, 1.3M)*
- The Geological Story of Cape York Peninsula by Warwick Willmott (2009) (PDF, 1.8M)*
- A framework for the development of ethno-ecological heritage stories on Cape York Peninsula by Mark Ziembicki, ANU Enterprise Pty Ltd (2010) (PDF, 489K)*
- Cape York Peninsula Indigenous Cultural Story by Peter Sutton (2011) (PDF, 1.1M)*
- Cape York Peninsula Cultural Story, Non-Indigenous and Shared History by Dr Nicky Horsfall and Dr Michael Morrison (2010) (PDF, 1.0M)*
- The Story of Plants on Cape York Peninsula by Dr Bruce Wannan (2010) (PDF, 545K)*
- The Hydroecological Natural Heritage Story of Cape York Peninsula by Ben Cook, Mark Kennard, Doug Ward and Brad Pusey (PDF, 2.1M)*
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 28 March 2012