The judge has ruled against work until parties return to court on Nov 19th.

It is sad that a court is required to adjudicate for the protection of our cultural heritage. Preservation of environment and culture should be fundamental.

Monday's felling of the Directions Tree proves the Government and MRPV have no genuine respect for culture or the DjabWurrung people. Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians are outraged. Our voices, our rage and our passion have been heard internationally and will strengthen the legal challenges.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO SUPPORT OUR LEGAL FIGHTING FUND.

We want the looming destruction of trees and country to stop, now. Authorities must respect the concerns of the DjabWurrung community. We want DjabWurrung trees and the precinct protected for their intrinsic and environmental worth.

The road authority plans to widen the Highway near Ararat, for 12 kilometres — with a 5.7 kilometre deviation away from the highway through DjabWurrung country and hilly landscape. Birthing trees and trees with scars and stone axe marks, all sacred to the DjabWurrung stand in and near the path of this new road. They are numbered and identified to be felled or harmed by infrastructure built so close that they suffer premature death.

Some 260 large old growth trees are among the 3000 threatened. This would meet late nineteenth century ideas of progress. All are essential for habitat for Australia's growing number of threatened species, in this time of Climate Emergency. KORS Inc will do all it can to prevent the authorities’ spending spree on security and destructive development while they use a discredited Environmental Effects Statement as a flimsy justification for their plan.

The deviation destroys Federally protected flora, fauna and habitat. And VicRoads claim their procedures have been proper and thorough. We think the standards are very low.

Recently the Victorian Supreme Court found that the destruction caused by this widening of the Western highway is legal. KORS Inc took legal advice on this and as a community decided to challenge the decision in defence of the natural and ancient cultural environment. We will appeal that decision.

But the price of justice is high. please click this link if you would like to make a donation.

Even with an amazing pro bono lawyer, associated expenses—the printing of court books; the lodging of Freedom of Information requests; applications to be heard in Court— all are far from cheap.

We believe the preservation of natural and cultural assets is more important than ever before.

These living landscapes need protection now. Once exploded and bulldozed, none of the landscape, trees, or ecosystems can be restored or replaced.

Endorsed by Sandra and Christine Onus, DjapWurrung Elders 
(written by Iona Mackenzie)