A new ten-year management plan for the dual-World Heritage Listed Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park will promote a deeper understanding of its cultural significance to all Australians and focus on strengthening 'Tjukurpa' -Aṉangu law and culture.
Translated into Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara, the language of the Anangu for the first time, the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Management Plan 2021 highlights the importance of protecting and maintaining Tjukurpa and of using Aṉangu (traditional custodians) and Piranpa (non-indigenous) knowledge and skills in the management of park values.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park was one of the world's great national parks and that the growing voice of Traditional Owners in park management was one of its strengths as a tourism destination.
"The new Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Plan of Management charts a course for the national park that further embeds traditional knowledge into the day-to-day operations of the park and continues to extend the focus on the values important to Aṉangu," Minister Ley said.
"I have worked closely with Traditional Owners in the Northern Territory to hear their aspirations and to ensure their role and their voice is respected and empowered.
"This plan has been developed by the Board of Management which has a majority of Aṉangu members, and has a renewed focus on the joint management partnership between Traditional Owners and Parks Australia.
"The new plan coincides with a period of record investment in Commonwealth national parks with $233 million going toward infrastructure renewal and upgrades, over $100 million directly to Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa."
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Board of Management Chairman, Sidney James, said protecting and maintaining the park using Aṉangu knowledge and skills with Parks Australia would bring great benefits to the local community and to Uluru and Kata Tjuta.
"We believe this new plan will help us create a deeper understanding of this place for everyone who comes to visit," Mr James said.
The Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Management Plan 2021.
Background:
- The new plan coincides with a period of record investment in Commonwealth national parks with $233 million going toward infrastructure renewal and upgrades, over $100 million directly to Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa.
- The initiative to improve accessibility to the plan through its translation into Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara was made possible with support from the Commonwealth, the National Parks Conservation Trust, Anangu Communities Foundation, a philanthropic donor and the Muṯitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation.
- This follows the recent World Heritage Committee decision to approve the use of Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara languages in a UNESCO Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the site.
- This was the first time UNESCO had included a language other than English or French in such a statement, even though there are over 1100 listed properties.
- Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is one of just 38 sites listed internationally for both cultural and natural heritage. It is one of Australia's first jointly managed national parks.
- Joint management began in 1985 when Aṉangu ownership of the land was formally recognised by title of the land being granted to its Traditional Owners under the Land Rights Act.
