“Inscribing the land at Koongarra as World Heritage is an important step in making this protection lasting and real.”A very rich man. His 1200ha of land at Koongarra on the eastern side of Kakadu National Park housed a uranium deposit worth an estimated $5 billion.
“Koongarra was in this loop where every four years the mining company could seek approval,” long-time environmental activist Dave Sweeney, from the Australian Conservation Foundation, told 7NEWS.com.au. “I remember sitting by the East Alligator River with Jeffrey and him saying, ‘How can we end it? I want to end it’.”Lee’s option was to get Koongarra included in the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park so it could be permanently protected.“Folding Koongarra back into Kakadu required a change to the world heritage boundaries,” said Sweeney.
“My mothers and grandmothers who taught me about the plants and animals, my uncles and aunties who shared their knowledge, to all the elders and my creation ancestors - I give my humble respect for standing here today.