Works on the agreed 3.85 Km common to both Option 1 and an alternative route has now stopped. Many trees have been felled unnecessarily within the 3.85km. Care and thought could have avoided at least 5 large old trees. 

Breaches of the No Go Zones have been reported to the compliance division of the Federal Department of Environment. Amazingly, the Dept asked MRPV if they were complying with the No Go Zones and … surprise, surprise, … they reported they were. Lawyer Mr. Kennedy has sent a follow up email 

KORS appreciates your continued support. If spare change can be found to help us with running costs for our campaign to preserve the old gums and grasslands it can be donated at Let The Trees Live

The menace of the pandemic paled against the MRPV’s  vindictive, incendiary felling of the Fiddleback Tree. The heartless parading of the tree trunk down the main street of Ararat speaks volumes about the attitude and lack of respect MRPV contractors have towards the environment. 

Marjorie Thorpe is to be applauded for challenging the State Government in the Supreme Court, which has resulted in the temporary injunction on all works. Marjorie is not creating an issue, rather, she is protecting and holding the Government to their own rules and regulations.

Although KORS is a community based environment group working to protect the ancient trees and remnant grasslands threatened by the Highway deviation, we fully support Marjorie Thorpe and others in the protection of their country.

Last week a challenge to the Federal Minister Ley’s decision NOT to protect the DjabWurrung Trees and Area of the highway upgrade was heard in the Federal Court. The Judge ruled in favour of the Traditional Owners on the s.12 application for protection of the trees. He set aside Minister Ley’s decision and in an unprecedented action, ordered the Minister to refer the application for decision by another Minister. He said he did this because of an apprehension of bias on the part of the Minister, “to do justice between the parties”. As he did not set aside the Minister’s decision to refuse protection of the Area there is concern that VicRoads may try to act to commence the works if and when the injunction under the Supreme Court case is released after the February 2021 hearing.

KORS has access to a safety report confirming that no fatalities have been recorded on the stretch of Highway Buangor-to-Ararat for 18 years and a crash average well below that of other state rural roads. The Minister and Premier are telling untruths when they say the upgrade is required for safety reasons. It is NOT. 

KORS’s has again written to the Premier asking for a meeting to discuss the impasse on the Highway Route. We advocate no deviation. Careful environment-centred planning can produce a far less destructive highway upgrade that shadows and uses the existing highway.

Many groups are campaigning for a better deal on environment. From North East Link, Westgate tunnel, Maddingly Coal’s toxic soil dump, Westernport Bay AGL terminal, Mount Martha Quarry, to continued protests against logging of old growth forests, we see dissatisfaction with the Environment Effects Act and the Planning Minister. It’s time to make the Act effective for today’s environmental situation and against today’s incentives to degrade it.