One of Western Victoria's major projects is sitting in neutral as the state government and traditional owners put together a Cultural Heritage Management Plan which will decide its future.
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The state government has confirmed that no more work on the Western Highway duplication project will take place until a new Cultural Heritage Management Plan has been created.
A Victorian Government spokeswoman said Major Road Projects Victoria are working with traditional owners about the future of the project.
"Major Road Projects Victoria has commenced work on a new Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the remainder of works on the Western Highway Duplication Project, between Buangor and Ararat, working closely with the traditional owner group," they said.
"They have decision-making responsibilities for matters of cultural heritage protection in respect of the project area.
"Construction will not take place on the project until a new Cultural Heritage Management Plan has been prepared and approved and current legal restraints are resolved."
The spokesperson said in the last decade 18 people have lost their lives on the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell, demonstrating the need for improvements to the road.
"There have been 152 crashes on the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell in the past 10 years, where tragically 18 people have lost their life and 94 people have been seriously injured," they said.
"That's why it's so important for the safety of the community that this road is duplicated - one life lost on our roads is one too many."
THE START
The duplication of the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell has been one of the state's longest running projects, with sections of the highway slowly being completed.
The ceremonial sod-turning on the first stage of roadworks to duplicate the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell was performed by then-premier John Brumby in April 2010.
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The Australian and Victorian Governments have committed a joint total of $656 million for the Western Highway Duplication - Ballarat to Stawell.
In 2008, the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments committed $505 million towards the first stages of the duplication between Ballarat and Buangor.
COST AND DELAYS
Construction work is on hold on the Western Highway between Buangor and Ararat pending the outcome of a proceeding in the Supreme Court of Victoria, following orders made by the Court in 2020.
In 2018 concerns about the cultural significance of trees that were to be removed along the government's chosen route were under the spotlight after authorities tried to start work on a section of the project in June 2018.
Delays to the delivery of the project due to ongoing court cases in the Federal and Supreme Courts means there will be significant costs incurred outside the budget.
The preparation of a new Cultural Heritage Management Plan has commenced and is currently anticipated to be completed by mid-2022.
THE SOLUTION
The Cultural Heritage Management Plan will continue to focus on the area surrounding the current approved alignment which generally follows the existing highway, then deviates away from the foothills of Mt Langi Ghiran State Park and into farmland.
The Cultural Heritage Management Plan will be prepared with assistance from heritage advisors, and assessed by Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, as the Registered Aboriginal Party and body representing traditional owners of the Project area, including Djab Wurrung Traditional Owners.
Despite no further works taking place until this issue is resolved, crews will continue to undertake environmental management activities and maintain the safety and security of the project site.
CRITICISM
In September, Australia Community Media reported that a document from the Victoria's Auditor-General's Office on major projects had provoked a sharp response from the state government's Department of Transport.
The independent report urged greater transparency for big projects - those valued over $100 million - and stated several had gone over-budget, were running late, or had changed scope since they were first announced, and this included the Western Highway's duplication to Stawell.
The report noted the cost of the highway duplication had increased by 30 per cent to $656.36 million, and had added five years and three quarters to its expected completion date of 2015-16.
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However, the state government dismissed concerns around cost and time overruns raised in the report, stating it was "littered with errors in how the data is applied", "gaps and misrepresentations", and "lacks context".
Increased infrastructure investment had led to "cost and resourcing pressures" globally, with "unprecedented demand".
"This VAGO report does not provide an accurate picture of the record level of investment the government is currently delivering right across Victoria - in schools, hospitals, prisons, rail and road upgrades," a government spokesperson said in a statement.
"Whether it's upgrading a local road or removing a dangerous level crossing, we will continue to listen to the Victorian people and deliver our election commitments that are based on community needs and wants.
"The majority of Victoria's 165 Big Build projects are on time and on budget - and they transform how Victorians travel whilst supporting more than 50,000 jobs.
"Most of these projects are fully accounted for in our budget papers."
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