Cost of protesters’ highway blockade revealed
Aboriginal activists blocking an upgrade to a deadly stretch of road in Victoria have cost taxpayers up to $18 million but the protesters, who are hoping to save trees, have vowed to continue their sit-in.
VIC News
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Protesters blocking an upgrade to a deadly road in Victoria have cost taxpayers up to $18 million, as fresh fears emerge about the project’s future.
Aboriginal activists have refused to leave protest camps along the Western Highway, set up between Buangor and Ararat in mid-2018, that forced contractors to down tools.
The protesters brought the $157 million duplication to a grinding halt, which the Herald Sun can reveal costs taxpayers as much as $260,000 a week.
Despite the eye-watering expense the group have vowed to continue their sit-in at the site, telling saying the cost of losing the trees “far outweighs the monetary value of the road” and “there will continue to be people there” as long as necessary.
The cost of the blockade has been revealed in a Federal Court case that late last year quashed a heritage decision made by Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
Justice Alan Robertson said in his judgment that Ms Ley “had a seriously flawed appreciation of the operation of the Heritage Protection Act” and must now reconsider the application for protection, throwing the much-needed road upgrade into further chaos.
Despite the setback, the federal and state governments, which have jointly funded the project in order to reduce the horror road toll in the area, are vowing to plough ahead.
The state already shifted the route of the project last year to save 15 trees of significance — including an indigenous “birthing tree” — and the route has been approved by the registered Aboriginal party in the area, but this has failed to placate the activists.
Tensions have risen at the site and security staff were employed for several months to help contractors work safely.
Former Northcote Greens MP Lidia Thorpe, who has been heavily involved in the rallying for the trees, defended the ongoing action.
“We are being blamed for holding up this highway and being blamed for the amount of money that is being wasted, but if we go back and look at the evidence, particularly the evidence that’s been given to the Environment Minister, you will see that Major Roads could have saved quite a considerable amount of money if they had followed proper process,” she said.
Local Wannon MP Dan Tehan, who is also federal Education Minister, said “the community strongly backs the duplication of the highway”.
“Once all processes have been finalised, including court processes, if the state government is forced to remove the protesters they would have my full support,” he said.
So far police have not been asked to remove protesters amid fears such a move would undermine a Treaty process between the state and Aboriginal Victorians.
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Some construction has started at a 3.8km section of the 12km duplication after mediation, but there are still fears contractors could walk away if the issue isn’t resolved.
A spokeswoman for Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said “the duplication of the highway will vastly improve safety for people in Victoria’s west”.
She said the project “has overwhelming support from the local community and the recognised Traditional Owner groups that represent the Djab Wurrung people”.