28 October 2019 

Community members are demanding MORE DESIGN, LESS DIESEL before its too late.

Community groups across Western District Farming Communities have joined their number to raise a voice demanding Government listen to them.  They have a road widening solution that doesn’t involve trashing ecologically sensitive areas or destroying sacred aboriginal cultural sites but MPRV (formally VicRoads) won’t listen and Transport Minister Jacinta Allan isn’t listening either.  

 “This project has spewed forth a stream of misrepresentations from Minister Allan, with documents withheld from Federal processes, flawed Environmental Reports and a resort to selective engagement to sideline community voices” says KORS member Charles Pithie.

The community has no confidence in this public project and is reeling from the unnecessary impacts in an earlier stage. Bizarrely, the process’ field surveys overlooked 1635 large old trees along the route between Beaufort and Ararat. Even without fieldwork, these large trees were visible from aerial photographs, but are now substantially destroyed. 

On the upcoming section, official surveys overlooked 25 hectares of native vegetation, rare "Spring soaks” on hillsides, federally protected grasslands and habitat, a whole Aboriginal precinct with its large scarred trees, a gold-rush era stone ford in excellent condition and the remaining part of a small World War 1 avenue of honour. The route selection panel lacked environmental or cultural expertise, so perhaps they missed the telltale signs of inadequate surveys.

“Plans for the Western Highway widening include an expensive 180 metres wide swathe, through 400 year old trees, natural corridors and farms where I live near Buangor, all for 20.4 seconds shaved off car trips”  says local MairiAnne Mackenzie whose family has lived in the district since the late 1950’s. “A large new cut through the country is the worst thing for the living fabric around us and it can be avoided by the alternative route, properly designed. But Government prefers a bulldozer-lead economy.”

By duplicating the 12.4 km of highway between Buangor to Ararat the two planned 12 metre-wide carriageways would yield a little more immediate physical safety but only for higher speed travellers amongst heavier freight-truck traffic, and at high financial cost.  

“I’d cop it sweet if the public benefits really outweighed the costs but it’s the exact opposite of what we should be doing for climate, environment, cultural heritage and value for taxpayers’ money, particularly when there is a better option available.”

The Community has developed an alternative road-widening design but MPRV and the Minister are not listening, instead ramming through a flawed road project.