Western Highway duplication protesters commit to long term stay and deny property damage to Dobie farm

Protesters started gathering at camps along the highway on June 17, claiming that trees with Aboriginal cultural heritage would be destroyed by the highway project.

An Aboriginal Elder who is part of the protest has denied that any activists were involved in alleged criminal damage on nearby farmland.

VicRoads and the Department of Premier and Cabinet, which houses the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio, have insisted that the trees had been appraised and found not to have significance as Birthing Trees.

Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corp subsequently accused the Department of misrepresenting its role in the appraisals.

In response to the allegations, a spokesperson said the department would “continue to work with VicRoads, Martang Incorporated and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation to come to a resolution for the issues that are currently being raised”.

Aboriginal Elder Aunty Sandra Onus said the protesters hosted Indigenous groups from across Victoria over the weekend and showed them the trees.

“We expect this to be going on for quite some time,” she said.

“We have more people waiting to come and stand with us if necessary.”

VicRoads north western project director Nigel Powers said the roads agency was “seeking a respectful resolution and will continue to work closely with all relevant parties to get on and deliver this vital project”.

Dobie farmer Max Wohlers, whose farm is near the protest sites, has filed a police report claiming damage to his bulldozer and tools, and graffiti in his woolshed.

Mr Wohlers claimed the protesters were involved in the incident, which he believed took place between Saturday, June 21 and the following Tuesday.

“I presume they thought (the bulldozer) was part of the effort to push the trees down,” Mr Wohlers said.

“All the tools in the ‘dozer were thrown out on the ground and the shovel was stuck in the ground, and that means something in Aboriginal terms, and the wire-cutters were missing.”

Fairfax Media does not suggest that any person pictured in its coverage of the protests was responsible for the damage.

Aunty Sandra denied that protesters had been involved in causing damage at the farm.

“I know it was no-one from our groups. That would serve us no good purpose for anyone to do anything like that,” she said.

“We do have discussion about protocols. I don’t believe any of our people did that and it would serve the purposes of anyone who is against our protest; that speaks for itself.”

Ararat Criminal Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Gjalt Erkelens said police were investigating but had no specific suspects as of Monday morning. 

DSC Erkelens urged anyone with information to contact Ararat Police Station on 5355 1500 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

As of Monday evening, the protesters had raised $4800 to support their cause and collected more than 5400 signatures calling on Roads Minister Luke Donnellan to change the duplication route.

During a visit to Ararat last month to promote mining exploration across the region, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas called for both sides of the protest to treat each other with respect.

“Development always comes with incursion into communities, and from time-to-time it has an impact on traditional lands, and we need to respect that,” Mr Pallas said.

“Aboriginal Victoria has looked at approved the location as one appropriate for the purposes of the development.

“Nevertheless, we will continue engagement.

“The first thing about a treaty (with Victoria’s Aboriginal peoples) is respect, and that means we are going to work through these issues in a respectful and considered way.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that we will always get our way and it doesn’t mean, necessarily, that one traditional owner group’s stated view gets its way.

“But the first thing we do is start from a position of mutual respect.”