THE planned route for the Western Highway duplication project between Buangor and Ararat will not be affected by plans to retain another 13 trees.
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Major Road Projects Victoria announced last week that it would retain the trees along the 12.5 kilometre stretch, following an extended consultation with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, which manages Eastern Maar native title rights.
Major Road Projects Victoria conducted a walk-through of the alignment in late April with Eastern Maar, members of the Djabwurrung Embassy Camp, and an independent arborist.
The organisation said it had not had direct access to the site since mid-2018 due to protest action, and had therefore been unable to confirm whether the trees could be retained.
However, through the walk-through it was able to confirm it will be able to retain the additional trees.
The announcement followed news in early February that two trees identified as significant at Pope Road and Warrayatkin Road would be retained through localised design changes along a one kilometre stretch.
There will be no further route changes as Major Road Projects will be able to retain the additional 13 trees through different construction techniques and access plans - something it was unable to confirm until the walk-through.
"Now that we've made a commitment to retain these trees and we have Eastern Maar's support for the revised route of the Western Highway we'll look to recommence work," Major Roads Director Development and Performance Andrew Williams said.
Eastern Maar's chief executive Jamie Lowe publicly endorsed the route on May 13.
"We have commissioned several reports and walked over country a lot, and we feel like we came to a satisfactory point that cultural heritage will be protected," he said at the time.
The project has experienced multiple delays and is now expected to be completed in early 2022.
Some of the project delays to date are: protest action beginning in June 2018, the initial protection application lodged by Embassy Camp members in July 2018 to the Federal Environment Minister, and a legal appeal against that determination.
There is also work, like asphalting, which can't take place during the winter.
Additionally, Major Road Projects Victoria is now awaiting the outcome of a Federal Court order to the Environment Department to re-assess the protection application.
Major Road Projects Victoria has committed that work will not recommence until the end of May 2019.