Activists camped along the Buangor stretch of the proposed Western Highway duplication project have issued a statement in response to Major Road Projects Victoria's eviction notice.

The activists have been protesting the development of the Western Highway duplication project by camping on proposed construction sites since June last year.

Since then Major Road Projects Victoria has committed to preserving 13 trees the activists say are significant.

In the statement, Mr Djab Mara said the Andrews government "wants to pick a fight with the Traditional Owners of this land."

"We have lived here on Country for 14 months now, and at the end of the day we're not going to put up with it, we're not going to tolerate it," he said.

"We're not moving until our sacred lands are protected. Sovereignty was never ceded.

"This country belongs to the women and children of the Djab Wurrung people, our ancestors and our future generations. We are the traditional custodians of this part of country, and by not engaging with us, Daniel Andrews is asking for this to get ugly."

UPDATE, 12pm Thursday:

TRADITIONAL Owner Zellanach Djab Mara has said an eviction notice issued by Major Road Projects Victoria to activists on Thursday morning changes nothing.

Mr Djab Mara has been camped along the proposed Western Highway duplication project in Buangor for over a year with other activists.

"We'll do our due diligence and do what we need to do in order to save our country and our lands," he said.

"We're not going anywhere."

Mr Djab Mara did not wish to make further comment.

EARLIER:

WESTERN Highway activists have 14 days to vacate the land they have been occupying for 14 months.

Major Road Projects Victoria personnel arrived early Thursday to hand-deliver notices to activists camped along the Buangor to Ararat stretch of the highway.

The activists have been protesting the development of the Western Highway duplication project since June last year.

Signs in the area state:

This land will be used for the duplication of the Western Highway - Buangor to Ararat project (Project).

Access to this land is not permitted.

All persons not employed to work on the Project or otherwise expressly permitted to access this land are prohibited from entering and have no other lawful excuse for entering this place.

Major Road Projects Victoria has been contacted for comment.

More to come.

READ MORE:

- The Western Highway duplication between Buangor and Ararat will go ahead with alterations

- Ararat Western Highway protest misinterpreted: Aunty Sandra Onus

- Ararat's emergency services say a duplicated highway would be safer

- Several sites are already protected under a plan worked out with Aboriginal Victoria