It costs money to destroy the environment and it costs money to protect it.
We need money for ecological justice.
KORS Inc. will appeal the recent Victorian Supreme Court finding that the existing approval of the Major Roads Projects Victoria Western highway widening project route is legal. After legal advice we decided as a community to challenge the decision in defence of the natural and ancient cultural environment.
But the price of seeking justice is high. Even with an amazing pro bono lawyer associated expenses—such as lodging Freedom of Information requests, applying to be heard in Court, printing court books—are far from cheap. For that reason, we are reluctantly asking for donations. We would prefer not to but holding any social gathering as a fundraiser during COVID restrictions is almost impossible.
We understand the pandemic is making spare funds scarce, but also we believe preservation of natural and cultural assets is more important than ever before. These living landscapes need protection now. It can’t wait. Once exploded and bulldozed, none of the landscape, trees, or ecosystems can be replaced.
Donations towards our legal costs and fighting fund can be made direct to the KORS Inc GoFundMe account
Help us defend the environment.
Your support for the KORS campaign to save the ancient gums can also be demonstrated by writing an email or letter to Heritage Victoria. We believe the ancient trees the surrounding Dobie precinct and wooded grasslands warrants protection by Heritage Victoria. heritage.victoria@delwp.vic.gov.au
KORS established some years ago that a route shadowing the existing highway is the most culturally suitable and offers the least environmental impact. So, we continue to advocate for an Independent and Open Route Review.
Followers of our case know this highway expansion is based on a flawed Environment Effects Statement (EES). Like others who defy state-based projects such as the North East Link, the Westgate Tunnel project, and the WesternPort Bay gas terminal proposal, our struggle is a contest of David and Goliath proportions. These mega-projects face similar grassroots challenges based on the same issues because the decision process is faulty. Part of the trouble comes from one piece of environmental legislation that is now 40+ years old, Victoria’s Environmental Effects Act 1978.
The purpose of that Act is to deliver environmental protection. But the intended outcomes of the law are lost in bureaucracy as the decision of the Supreme Court shows https://www.lawlibrary.vic.gov.au/library-services/digital-library/judgments/mackenzie-mairianne-mackenzie-iona-and-keep-original And Professor Samuels’ report show that federally what we have is rubber stamp projects that destroy the environment.(https://epbcactreview.environment.gov.au/about-review/reviewer-and-expert-panel Our laws urgently need reform to actually protect nature. This cannot wait either.
KORS formed because the current planning laws lack social license. KORS Inc supports new environmental protection laws to uphold the expectations of today’s society. With the development of a climate crisis and the ongoing worldwide loss of forests and trees—all carbon sinks—we see that Australian environmental law is so old it might as well be antediluvian.
Please help us to defend the environment in this test case. A successful challenge turn the tide against the flawed and wickedly out of date environmental legislation that licenses all of the Victorian Government’s decisions to destroy environment in exchange for unsustainable mega projects. And, don’t forget—the government does this funded by the public purse.