What’s happening on the Western Highway?
Nothing (that you can see) apart from security guards…for the moment.
BUT behind the scenes
A Supreme Court injunction is holding works at bay until a new Cultural Heritage Management Plan is prepared.
The new CHMP affords the relevant Representative Aboriginal Party, RAP, Eastern Maar, the opportunity to re assess the approved route and take further account of the Djabwurrung women’s country. KORS acknowledges and appreciates the work of the RAP’s in protecting country for all Australians.
Our community group KORS is wanting to meet with the elected local state representative, Louise Staley, who continues to decline our requests to support a readily available culturally and environmentally acceptable alternative route. KORS. notes Ms Staley has met with the AUSNET transmission towers opposition groups and the opposers to the expansion of Langi Ghiran state Park. Are we to assume that Ms Staley is content with the continued delay in the Highway duplication?
We have also asked to meet the Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure who has ignored our requests.
Requests to meet the Minister for Transport Infrastructure are repeatedly batted off with a standard formatted response of “no need to meet” because the Highway route selection has followed process. But did the process finsd the least impact route, we ask? Government is ignoring all the updated, newly reported, State and Federally protected flora and fauna within the work footprint of the Highway.
Representatives of KORS recently met with Andy Meddick, MP representing Western Region of Victoria for the Animal Justice Party. Andy has spoken to the Minister for Transport Infrastructure and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs on our behalf and continues to advocate for an environmentally and culturally sensitive solution to upgrading the safety of the existing Highway.
Clifford Hayes MP representing Sustainable Australia has offered to sponsor an e petition to State parliament. The petition will be requesting a parliamentary committee review of the current Environment Effects Act and the Planning and Environment Act. The EE Act has not been updated since it was written in 1978 before climate change was on the agenda.
Our recent experience in the Supreme Court highlights the lack of protection provided by the Acts and the power of the Planning Minister to effectively over rule all information and processes at his discretion.
When the petition is live on the Parliament website we will be asking for your support to sign and spread the word to your friends and networks. A large number of signatures will be hard for the Government to ignore.
The involvement of both Clifford and Andy highlight the importance of independent members of Parliament prepared to represent their electorate and not beholden to the “ power of the party”.
t’s important you speak to your friends and keep them updated about the Highway campaign. Pass on the website and Facebook details
follow KORS Inc on Facebook for regular information.
…the more people who know/understand the facts the more people will support us.
KORS is horrified to read of Sussan Ley is appealing the Federal Court’s decision that she has a duty of care to protect young people from Climate Change dangers. It seems to us that protecting the environment is what this duty care for Young people is all about. Is it respect for our surroundings or the sense of duty that she lacks? Both are prerequisites for her job.
As always financial support is appreciated, it costs money to speak truth to power. Donate Here