Victoria’s Department of Premier and Cabinet has rejected claims that four trees between Ararat and Buangor have significant Aboriginal cultural heritage. 

On Sunday afternoon, members of the Djabwurrung Aboriginal people started to form a camp in the path of works to duplicate the Western Highway from Buangor to Ararat.

The protesters, who were joined by supporters from Ballarat, Melbourne and New South Wales on Monday and Tuesday, said they would blockade the works to protect four trees they claim held Aboriginal cultural significance.

VicRoads plans to remove 3000 trees along a 12.5 kilometre stretch as part of the two-year, $42 million duplication project.

On Tuesday evening, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, whose responsibilities include supporting the Mr Andrews and the Aboriginal Affairs Minister Natalie Hutchins, issued a statement about the protest.

“The Department of Premier and Cabinet is aware a group of local residents and Traditional Owners are currently protesting against a VicRoads highway duplication project at Buangor in Western Victoria,” a department spokesperson said.

“Traditional Owners have approved a cultural heritage management plan allowing construction of the Western Highway duplication project.  

“Both Martang Incorporated (Martang) and the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC), who are the formally recognised Traditional Owner organisations that represent the Djabwurrung people, have stated they do not believe the trees to be Birthing Trees or to otherwise have cultural significance.

Aboriginal activists have vowed to stay at a protest camp and blockade tree removal for the Western Highway duplication at Ararat unless a deal is reached on cultural heritage.

Protesters started forming a camp along the Western Highway duplication site between Ararat and Buangor on Sunday afternoon in a last-ditch effort to save trees with claimed Aboriginal heritage.

The protesters set up a ‘Djabwurrung Embassy’ across from Warrayatkin Road and the next to a tree thought to be 800 years old.

VicRoads had scheduled to begin removing 3000 trees on Monday along the future site for new lanes of the Western Highway.

Djabwurrung Elder, Aunty Sandra Onus, said the group had prepared a legal appeal with the federal government to stop the works.

“We are trying to protect our trees from VicRoads’ destruction. We believe the trees are highly significant ” she said.

Aunty Sandra said some of the trees between Ararat and Buangor had been used by Aboriginal women for cooking and shelter.

Fairfax Media understands that VicRoads will proceed with the scheduled tree removals despite the protest.

VicRoads north west projects director Nigel Powers said there had been a rigorous assessment by Aboriginal Victoria, which had found no significance.

“This vital upgrade will provide drivers with a safer and quicker journey, and ensure this key trade route can continue to support primary producers,” he said.