28 February.On 14 February, Australia's Governor General formally included the Koongarra area within Kakadu National Park, thanks to the persistence of two clans and to the decision of the World Heritage Committee.

This area was initially excluded due to the presence of uranium. In 2010 Mr Jeffrey Lee, the Senior Traditional Owner of the Djok clan and custodian of the Koongarra region, asked the Australian Government to incorporate the area into Kakadu National Park to ensure its permanent protection from mining.

The next year, representatives of the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) an organization established, managed and controlled by the Mirarr people, attended the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee. The same year, Mr Lee visited Paris where finally on 27 June 2011 the Committee adopted a minor boundary modification to the Kakadu World Heritage Area to encompass the Koongarra area. This positive decision was a critical step on the path towards permanent protection for Koongarra, which finally came about this past 14 February.

In response to the announcement, Mr Lee said:

“This is a great day for me, my country and my culture. My mind is at peace now that I know that there will be no mining at Koongarra and that Djok lands will be protected forever in Kakadu National Park. I have said no to uranium mining at Koongarra because I believe that the land and my cultural beliefs are more important than mining and money. Money comes and goes, but the land is always here, it always stays if we look after it and it will look after us.”

updated on: 28 February, 2013