Western Highway activists given Major Roads eviction after 14-month protest
Western Highway activists have been given 14 days to vacate the land they have been occupying for 14 months.
Major Road Projects Victoria personnel arrived early Thursday to deliver notices to activists camped along the Buangor to Ararat stretch of the highway.
The activists have been protesting the $672 million Western Highway duplication project since June last year.
Signs in the area state:
This land will be used for the duplication of the Western Highway - Buangor to Ararat project (Project).
Access to this land is not permitted.
All persons not employed to work on the Project or otherwise expressly permitted to access this land are prohibited from entering and have no other lawful excuse for entering this place.
Traditional owner Zellanach Gurnaikurnai said the eviction notice issued by Major Road Projects Victoria to activists changes nothing.
Mr Gurnaikurnai has been camped along the proposed Western Highway duplication project in Buangor for over a year with other activists.
"We'll do our due diligence and do what we need to do in order to save our country and our lands," he said.
"We're not going anywhere."
Mr Gurnaikurnai did not wish to make further comment.
Major Road Projects Victoria has been contacted for comment.
Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley last month rejected a bid by Djab Wurrung traditional owners to save the trees along a 12-kilometre stretch of the development.
She found that as five of the six sacred trees identified in the submission would now be saved due to the state government's decision to change the route, the project no longer threatened the Aboriginal cultural heritage of the area.
Among those saved included an 800-year-old sacred "birthing" tree, which has been identified as culturally significant.
Traditional owners opposing to the development have shifted their attention to an area between Buangor and Ararat, where they say the removal of 3000 trees damages an area that is part of the "songline". Among the trees set to be removed are a 350-year-old "directions" tree known for its resemblance to a woman.
More to come