‘Sacred’ trees given a new lease of life

An indigenous protest group has negotiated an interim Federal Court settlement with Major Road Projects Victoria.

The ‘Djab Wurrung Embassy’ between Buangor and Ararat.

Fifteen “sacred” trees in Victoria’s west will be saved from the bulldozer after an indigenous protest group known as the Djab Wurrung Traditional Owners negotiated an interim Federal Court settlement with Major Road Projects Victoria.

A dispute over centuries-old trees that stood to be destroyed to make way for the Western Highway duplication had threatened to derail the Andrews government’s signature policy of negotiating a treaty with traditional owners, and seen activists establish a “Djab Wurrung Embassy” at the site, between Buangor and Ararat, since June last year.

Construction is set to resume on a 3.8km stretch of the 12km highway duplication after agreement was reached through medi­ation between the Djab Wurrung protesters and the government.

The Andrews government had previously cited the support of bodies representing the officially recognised traditional owners Eastern Maar and Martang — including Aboriginal Victoria, the ­Federation of Victorian Tradition­al Owner Corporations and the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council — in refusing to alter the highway route.

“Even though the two registered groups that represent the Djab Wurrung people have ­formally approved the project, we have entered into this ­agreement as a show of good faith with the protesters,” Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said. The rest of the 12km of duplication works is on hold, as Djab Wurrung protesters challenge a federal government decision to not declare heritage protection for the trees; they say the trees are ­sacred places where women would go to give birth.

The Djab Wurrung protesters welcomed the changes, saying the alteration of the 3.8km was a least-invasive and cheaper alternative to the original design.