Frequently asked questions—Tentative List: Great Sandy World Heritage area
In 1992, Fraser Island , was inscribed on the World Heritage List, maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), for its unique natural values. Since that time the UNESCO World Heritage Committee adopted the traditional name to the property, now known as K’gari (Fraser Island). In 2023 the name of the Island was formally changed under the Place Names Act 1994 (Qld) to K’gari.
World Heritage properties are places with significant cultural and/or natural values that are internationally recognised for their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) as assessed against one or more of the World Heritage criteria. Further information about the Outstanding Universal Value is available from Understanding World Heritage: what is outstanding universal value? - DCCEEW
Adjacent areas, including Cooloola, were included in the original nomination but were not listed at the time due to insufficient justification of the areas’ “Outstanding Universal Value” and unresolved tenure issues. Following further work and assessments which confirmed the significance of the values, the Australian Government added Great Sandy to its World Heritage Tentative List in 2010 (UNESCO World Heritage Centre – Tentative Lists)
Since 2010 much has happened in understanding the cultural and natural significance of the Great Sandy region.
In 2022 the Queensland Government released the Queensland First Nations World Heritage Strategy which seeks to place Country and people at the centre of World Heritage business, including the development of Tentative List submissions and World Heritage nominations.
Additionally, Native Title determinations have occurred for Butchulla People #2 (24/10/2014) and Butchulla People Land & Sea Claim #2 (13/12/2019) and the Kabi Kabi First Nation Traditional Owners Native Title Claim Group (17/06/2024).
What is World Heritage?
World Heritage properties are places of such outstanding significance that their qualities make them universally unique and worthy of protection for future generations.
The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, commonly referred to as the World Heritage Convention, seeks to identify, protect, conserve and transmit to future generations sites of cultural and natural heritage considered to be of outstanding universal value to humanity.
As of August 2023, there are 195 States Parties to the Convention, for details visit UNESCO State Parties.
How is Australia involved in World Heritage?
Australia has long recognised the importance of preserving its rich and diverse natural and cultural heritage, and was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention in 1974.
Australia’s World Heritage properties are protected and managed under a range of legislation enacted at the national and state levels. In Queensland, the underlying tenure determines which legislation applies, and includes the Nature Conservation Act 1992, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003, Environmental Protection Act 1994, Planning Act 2016, Biosecurity Act 2014, Land Act 1994 and Vegetation Management Act 1999.
The Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), is recognised as world’s best practice for protecting World Heritage values. The EPBC Act identifies World Heritage as matters of national environmental significance (MNES). Owners and managers are obliged to take the World Heritage values of the property into account in managing the property and must seek approval when making decisions likely to have a significant impact on those values. The term ‘World Heritage values’ encompasses all attributes that contribute to the Outstanding Universal Value of a World Heritage property. For more information see What's protected under the EPBC Act.
Under the Act, an action that will, or is likely, to have a significant impact on World Heritage or National Heritage values may be taken only if the action is approved by the Australian Minister for the Environment. To obtain approval for a proposed action, the proposal must be referred to the Australian Government for environmental impact assessment.
World Heritage management requirements are captured in the Australian World Heritage management principles. These principles are included in Schedule 5 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000 and have been expanded and agreed by all state governments as part of the Australian World Heritage Intergovernmental Agreement.
There are currently 20 World Heritage properties in Australia, for details visit Australia's World Heritage List .
Why extend the K'gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage area?
The combination of proposed areas for extension with K'gari better protects and recognises the outstanding universal value for which K'gari was listed as World Heritage. The extension area is sufficiently diverse to allow for consideration of listing under additional World Heritage criteria (both cultural and natural).
Which areas are being considered for inclusion in the extension?
The proposed extension will be based on the finding of natural and cultural assessments as well as the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of First Nations peoples and other private landholders seeking to be included.
A map of the area being considered will be developed as part of the process.
What are the benefits of World Heritage listing?
An extension to the K'gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage area could provide significant benefits to the local community, including improved management and protection of the local environment and a potential boost to the local economy through increased tourism and investment.
How does listing happen?
The first step towards World Heritage is to have a place added to the Australian World Heritage Tentative List, which indicates Australia’s future intention to progress a World Heritage nomination.
While the Australian Government added Great Sandy to its World Heritage Tentative List in 2010, much has changed since this submission which now requires an extensive revision to identify cultural and natural values and potential areas.
What will be the government's approach to gaining Traditional Owner consent?
Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Traditional Owners and others with rights and interests in proposed locations is required for both Tentative List submissions and/or World Heritage nominations.
How will Traditional Owners be affected?
Traditional use of the proposed World Heritage area extension will not be affected, and existing or future native title claims can still be submitted for properties that are World Heritage listed.
Traditional Owners will still have native title rights and the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) is the final determinant in these matters.
Will World Heritage listing affect local landholders?
World Heritage listing does not affect ownership rights and there are no impediments to existing or planned land uses, unless they threaten the proposed World Heritage values of the property.
The inclusion of private land will only be considered with the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of relevant landholders.
Will World Heritage listing change the commercial activities allowed on the proposed extension area?
For the most part, commercial activities occurring in an area can continue when it is World Heritage listed.
Existing activities that are considered a risk to proposed World Heritage values would be subject to discussion and negotiation before a nomination proceeded, and would need to be part of the required Management System for the nomination.
Will people still be able to use the region for recreation?
Yes. World Heritage listing does not affect current recreation activities such as camping, surfing, swimming, four-wheel driving, bushwalking, nature appreciation, hang gliding, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and photography.
Consultation
The Queensland Government recognises that whole communities need to be consulted along the process to World Heritage listing.
After a property is Tentative Listed, a deep and extensive consultation process is undertaken to identify the values of potential areas and document the Outstanding Universal Value of the proposed property against the 10 World Heritage criteria, for details visit UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
Engagement will continue with Traditional Owner groups and community and others with rights and interests in the area, such as landowners, councils and the broader community.
The World Heritage nomination process will also include broader engagement which will enable other Traditional Owner groups and stakeholders to consider if they may like to participate in the World Heritage nomination process.
Contact and more information
For any further information or to ask specific questions, please email the World Heritage team at: world.heritage@des.qld.gov.au.