Lawyers representing the federal environment minister and a Traditional Owner from the Pilbara will have their first meeting in court on Friday as efforts to block Woodside's extension of the life of their North West Shelf gas project continue.

As previously reported, Mardathoonera woman Raelene Cooper - a former chair of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation - in February 2022 filed a section 10 application with the former environment minister Tanya Plibersek over her concerns about the fate of the world-renowned Murujuga rock art.

Under the terms of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, section 10 enables an Aboriginal person or a group of Aboriginal people to make an application to the environment minister to seek a declaration for the preservation or protection of a specific significant Aboriginal area from injury or desecration. The Act allows the minister to make a declaration if they believe the area is not adequately protected under State or Territory legislation.

After more than three years of her application being ignored, Cooper last month filed papers with the federal courts to have the minister compelled to assess her application.

A first case management hearing will be held on Friday in Sydney.

The move comes after snap protests have been held across Australia today to protest against the proposal approval of Woodside's extension of the life of the North West Shelf gas export hub in Western Australia. 

Organised by the Conservation Councils in each state and territory, the protestors are calling for the federal government to refuse the approval.