Post on 29-Sep-2020
MEDIA ENQUIRIES For media enquiries contact Major Road Projects Victoria media T: 1800 549 714 E: media@roadprojects.vic.gov.au W: roadprojects.vic.gov.au Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne
Media Release MONDAY 13 MAY 2019
WESTERN HIGHWAY PROJECT WELCOMES EASTERN MAAR SUPPORT
Major Road Projects Victoria has welcomed the support of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation for the revised route of the Western Highway upgrade.
Major Road Projects Victoria has been working closely with the Eastern Maar for more than a year to ensure that the Western Highway upgrade delivers the best possible result for the whole community.
Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and Major Road Projects Victoria have reached an agreement on which critical trees should be retained as well as important initiatives including protection of cultural heritage in western Victoria and the inclusion of more Aboriginal people in the Western Highway project.
Major Road Projects Victoria Director of Development and Performance Andrew Williams said this outcome recognises the Aboriginal community’s close relationship and spiritual association with the land.
“We’re making sure the Western Highway upgrade is delivered in a way that respects the cultural values associated with the land and its Traditional Owners,” Mr Williams said.
“This is a project of national importance which is why we’ve worked extensively and respectfully with the Eastern Maar to reach agreement ensuring the Aboriginal community is at the forefront of what we do.”
“We’re continuing to work respectfully with the Djab Wurrung community, and with the support of the Eastern Maar, we’ll look to recommence work along the approved alignment of the Western Highway upgrade.”
To date, Major Road Projects Victoria has been able to realign the roadworks to avoid the two trees initially identified by the community as culturally significant and, more recently, has been able to confirm a further 13 trees will be retained.
Representatives from Major Road Projects Victoria, the Eastern Maar and the Djab Wurrung community have undertaken a walkthrough of the alignment to ensure, where possible, those trees identified as significant by the Aboriginal community are retained and protected during construction.
This builds upon the important work undertaken during the project’s planning stages to ensure Aboriginal heritage would be managed respectfully as part of the project’s Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
“The Western Highway is the main link between Melbourne and Adelaide and is the busiest undivided national highway in Australia – this upgrade will duplicate the road to improve safety for drivers,” Mr Williams said.
There have been 93 crashes on the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell since 2014, including 10 deaths and 50 serious injuries.
Major Road Projects Victoria is now awaiting the outcome of an application to the Department of the Environment and Energy regarding the Western Highway and has informed the Department that works will not commence for another fortnight.
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ICN: 7585 ABN: 47 090 784 550
13 MAY 2019
EASTERN MAAR CULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVED ALONG WESTERN HIGHWAY The Board of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) and the Djab Wurrung community have secured important cultural heritage outcomes as part of the revised route of the Western Highway upgrade.
EMAC has been working with Major Road Projects Victoria as part of the project and they have been in close consultation since last year to help ensure that the Western Highway upgrade benefits the whole community and protects Aboriginal culture.
The Board of the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, have now secured a commitment from Major Road Projects Victoria that the culturally significant trees will be protected. This commitment emphasises that protection of cultural heritage is paramount to the Eastern Maar people.
Aunt Ros Howden, a Eastern Maar elder and senior custodian for the trees stated, “I am very happy with the outcomes of the negotiations with the government. These trees are now protected and the road can go ahead.”
Representatives from the Eastern Maar community recently joined Major Road Projects Victoria on a walkthrough of the alignment to ensure, where possible, those trees identified as significant by the Aboriginal community are retained and protected during construction.
EMAC recognises the considerable efforts made by Major Road Projects Victoria to realign the roadworks to avoid the two trees initially identified by the community as culturally significant.
EMAC noted that a further 13 trees have been able to be retained along the alignment as a result of the consultations. They were grateful to members of their community who stood strong in protection of the trees.
Aunt Janice Austin, Eastern Maar elder and senior custodian for the trees stated that “no one argues with the fact this highway needs to be upgraded. Now the upgrade is going ahead in a way that protects our cultural heritage. The government has listened to our concerns.”
In a further sign of self determination on the right to protect culturally significant heritage, the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation will continue to work with the Victorian Government and Major Road Projects Victoria on the Western Highway project and its implementation.
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G r a m p i a n s N P
G r e a t O t w a y N P
LAKE CORANGAMITE
HOPK INS RIVER
MOUNT EMU CRE EK
Y ARRA R IVE R
WIMMERA RIVER
L ODD O N RIVER
FIERY CREEK
WERRIBEE RIVER
BARWON RIVER
WANNON RIVER
GOUL BURN RIVER
CAMPASP
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R
AVOCA RI
VER
COLIBAN RIVER
BET BET C REEK
YEA RIVER
SAL T CR EEK
ACHE
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SPRING CREEK
BASS RIVER
DEEP CREE
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LIT TLE RIVER
HUGH ES CREEK
EUME
RA
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PLEN
TYRI
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CURDIES RIVER
WOADY YALOAK RIVER
MOO RABOOL RIVER
GELLIBRAND RIVER
TULL
AROOP CREEK
BUNYIP RIVER
GLENE
LGRIV
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YAR ROWEE RIVER
AIRE RIV ER
MOYN
ERI
VER
MACKEN ZIE RIVER
LERDERDERG RIVER
MURRIND INDI RIVER
WARRAMBINE CREEK
POWLETT RIVER
W ATTS RIVER
CRESWICK CRE EK
KURKURUC CREEK
PO
HLMAN CREEK
LANG LANG RI VER
W ILD DUCK CREEK
MARIB YRNONG RIVER
BULLOCKCRE EK
LITTLE YARR A RIVER
SUGA
RLOAF CREEK
SEVE N CREEKS
Yea
Lara
Avoca
Nyora
Cowes
Lorne
Koroit
Ballan
Lexton
Bunyip
Maldon
Somers
Cobden
Cressy
Clunes
Wallan
Terang
Merton
Berwick
Kyneton
Portsea
Forrest
Skipton
Dunolly
Maroona
Kilmore
Navarre
Rosebud
Seville
Lismore
Woodend
Torquay
Dunkeld
Tooradin
Cockatoo
Meredith
Drysdale
Box Hill
Trentham
Belgrave
Beaufort
Hastings
Mortlake
Lilydale
Creswick
Flinders
San Remo
Anglesea
Kinglake
Moorabbin
Lang Lang
Broadford
Dandenong
Penshurst
Cavendish
Glenorchy
Macarthur
Deer Park
Frankston
Warburton
Halls Gap
Inverloch
Buninyong
Heidelberg
Daylesford
Somerville
Lethbridge
Cranbourne
Yarra Glen
Lancefield
Apollo Bay
Port Fairy
Warrandyte
Whittlesea
Winchelsea
Flowerdale
Lake Bolac
Crib Point
Puckapunyal
Craigieburn
Bannockburn
Koo wee rup
Queenscliff
Tullamarine
Hurstbridge
Ocean Grove
St Leonards
Glenthompson
Barwon Heads
Bacchus Marsh
Port Campbell
Portarlington
Point Lonsdale
Riddells Creek
Yarra Junction
Hepburn Springs
Caroline Springs
Heathcote Junction
Colac
Romsey
Melton
Ararat
Seymour
Sunbury
Stawell
Macedon
Werribee
Gisborne
Pakenham
Wonthaggi
Alexandra
CamperdownMornington
Healesville
CastlemaineMaryborough
Geelong
Ballarat
Hamilton
Warrnambool
Melbourne
PRINCES HIGHWAY
WESTERN HIGHWAY
145°0'0"E
145°0'0"E
144°0'0"E
144°0'0"E
143°0'0"E
143°0'0"E
142°0'0"E
142°0'0"E37
°0'0"S 37
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38°0'
0"S 38°0'
0"S
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employeesdo not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriatefor your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or otherconsequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
K:\GIS\projects\Ad hoc mapping\DOJ Native Title unit\Eastern Maar RSA\Eastern Maar RSA-wv-04SEP17.mxd
Map of Eastern Maar Traditional Owner Groupnegotiation area for a
Recognition and Settlement Agreementunder the
Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010Prepared by Aboriginal Victoria
September 2017
S O U T H E R N O C E A N B A S S S T R A I T
Boundarysubject to
agreement
withWathaurung Peoples
- making20 0 2010
kilometres
1:850,000Scale
±VICGRIDGDA 94
Victoria
Melbourne
Legend
Native Title Determination Areas
Proposed Agreement BoundaryBoundary remains subject to agreement-making with neighbouringTraditional Owner groups, or some other process for considerationof their interests
Zone of negotiation with Wotjobaluk Peoples
Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation Registered Aboriginal Party
Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Recognition and Settlement Agreement area
Eastern Maar/Gunditjmara Part B
Gunditjmara Part A
Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Peoples