As the campaign continues there are many conflicting reports in the media.
Please do not believe everything you read or hear on the radio.
Unfortunately, the Transport Infrastructure Minister, Jacinta Allen, continues to speak untruths regarding safety, consultation, environmental damage, process and costs.
The proven facts are:
There have not been any fatalities on the disputed stretch of road in the last 5 years, and 11 crashes..mostly single vehicle.
There was limited consultation with Martang and Eastern Maar and no consultation with Djabwurrung, who have rejected the asserted authority of Eastern Maar to speak for or represent them... There have not been any community consultation meetings since June 2018.
The 2012 Environmental Effects Statement was part of a planning process that was NOT independent. It was prepared for VicRoads by its preferred consultants. It had many and varied faults, as VicRoads found when it commissioned a peer review by a firm called Biosis in December 2015.
The works contract value was stated by MRPV (Major Road Projects Victoria) to be $85 million on 7 November 2018. The Pattinson affidavit revealed $12.2 million has been paid to the contractor since the contract was signed in January 2018, despite only minor design and no construction since that date. As at 7 June 2019, the contract costs disclosed by the affidavit are estimated at $128 million, representing an increase of over 66% in a little over eight months. KORS Inc. takes NO responsibility for delay costs which are due to the incompetence of the Government selection process.
The Northern Option can be constructed at less risk (as it does not require 60,000 trucks of cut and fill material, as estimated by the 2012 Panel Inquiry, in at least 6 months less time, as estimated by former Theiss Regional Constructions General Manager David Clark – referenced in The Age several weeks ago) and at a much lower cost, as it utilises the existing highway alignment and a parallel former power line easement, rather than carving a 4-lane highway through pristine farm land. It minimises the environmental and cultural heritage impacts, based on ecological Expert Witness Statements filed in the somewhat parallel Supreme Court proceedings and four cultural heritage archaeological reports, three by Dr. Heather Builth in August 2017, August 2018 and June 2019 and a most significant report, by On Country Heritage & Consulting dated 7 December 2018.
The real situation is very fluid, but The Djab Wurrung community Traditional Owners negotiated an interim settlement with Major Road Projects Victoria, MRPV, on Oct 1. The mediated result between MRPV and the Djabwurrung elders is for MRPV to begin preparatory work on 3.5km of highway that is common to both the Northern Option and Option 1(MRPV preferred route). The Northern Option can still be built.
The Djabwurrung are challenging the compliance by MRPV with conditions of the agreed mediated terms of settlement.
The Djabwurrung are appealing the recent decision (July 2019)by the Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, not to protect the area under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Heritage Protection Act. The judge ordered mediation, which has resulted in the current status of no work on the disputed 9.5 km of highway.
A hearing on the appeal is set for the 3rd week in November. Should the appeal be successful, the claim will be sent back to the MInister to review her decision. That will offer the opportunity for MRPV and the Victorian Government to listen to the community and consider the alternative, so that the highway duplication can proceed immediately with a win-win-win for all concerned.
KORS and 2 affected landholders have a listed court case against MRPV challenging the Process of the EES.(Environmental Effects Statement). The hearing is set down for March 2020 Mediation is scheduled in December.
A lot to read and comprehend but it is a complex situation.
As KORS is a small community environment group taking on the State Government and MRPV
we are asking if anyone has graphic design expertise. We urgently need to get some flyers with the facts printed.
Any one with skill at writing media releases?
Any one have media or political contacts?
How else can you help?
Write the truth to the politicians..Daniel Andrews, Jacinta Allen, your local member..
Sign our petition.. if you haven’t already.
Make a donation to help with expenses at
For more information go to www.fixfreewayfiasco.org
Send us support, advice, information at www.fixfreewayfiasco@gmail.com
Talk up the Northern Option to every one you meet ..spread the truth.
Encourage people to sign the petition, donate and get involved too.
and finally, if you don’t want to receive any more communication from us email fixfreewayfiasco@gmail.com and request removal from the email list.