The fight to protect an invaluable heritage
From Cooper Creek Wilderness Wiki Daintree Rainforest QLD Wiki
THE BLUE POOL
“The Blue Pool” (depicted above as it was 1995) is a World Heritage treasure of exceptional importance situated in a sharp curve of Cooper Creek at the base of Thornton Peak.
Australia’s international obligation to protect and conserve this sacred site is inscribed in its declaration within the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area in 1988.
The Daintree is recognized as the “Jewel In the Crown” of the Wet Tropical rainforests of Australia. Twelve of the nineteen families of primitive flowering plants known to exist on earth are contained in the Daintree rainforest. At its centrepoint, the Cooper Creek lowland rainforest is a living museum of rare and ancient plants that have survived the ice ages and remain as living proof of continuity of growth over approximately 135 million years.
The rainforest about the Blue Pool is structurally classified as complex mesophyll vine forest: the ultimate expression of rainforest in Australia. It is also one of the most endangered rainforest systems in the wet tropics region. This rainforest type is especially noted as being the habitat for many rare and threatened species located within the precinct including the endangered southern cassowary.
The Blue Pool is also sacred to the Kuku Yalanji traditional owners as a birthing site and spiritual resting place over many generations. It is a secret women’s place. Its pristine condition, prior to the recent devevloment of unauthorised popular recreational access, was testimony to traditional management practices.
The Blue Pool existed as a tribute to indigenous land management over tens of thousands of years. Over the past 10 years, high impact tourism, over-enthusiastic recreation, vandalism and neglect have destroyed the pristine beauty of this global treasure.
Five government agencies responsible for the management of “The Blue Pool” precinct, Environment Australia, Wet Tropics Management Authority, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Douglas Shire Council have been unable or unwilling to protect and conserve this special place.
In August 1998 an independent report of “The Blue Pool” was executed by Greening Australia – Queensland (Inc), as a component of the Community Vegetation Management Program.
“The primary aim of this report was to illustrate that there were major threatening processes degrading the natural World Heritage Values of this small area of outstanding biological significance. It was clearly demonstrated that there exists little will or cooperation within the various government agencies at all levels to accept responsibility for management of this area.
State and Local Government Authorities have decided that the Blue Pool precinct should be managed as a “recreational/cultural/environmental reserve” and have instructed a consultant to develop a management plan according to this designation.
Visitors to the Daintree rainforest have been appalled by this decision. Australia’s commitment to reconciliation with the Traditional Owners and protection of Wet World Heritage values have been set aside in favour of a maintaining the current damaging impacts.
“The Blue Pool” is a World Heritage global treasure with universal values that are important to all humankind. The designation of this reserve as a “recreational reserve” institutionalizes the disrespect shown to the Traditional Owners and to the environment.
We call on our visitors and readers to inform all levels of government, in the strongest possible terms, that this area must be conserved, protected, and transmitted to future generations. There must be an immediate halt to damaging impacts and proper respect shown to the Kuku-Yalanji’s sacred birthing place.
