UPDATE, 4.30pm: About 50 arrests were made on Tuesday after police removed protesters along the Western Highway from restricted areas throughout the day.
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The Western Highway was shut for most of the day between Ballarat and Ararat but opened about 4pm with a reduced speed limit of 40km, following a temporary closure earlier today, to ensure the safety of contractors who were still working on the site.
Forty of the protesters were arrested for refusing to leave a restricted access area and failing to comply with the Chief Health Officer's directions.
Each of those individuals were released pending summons.
The other 10 protesters were arrested for obstructing police at the site of the protest.
They were taken to Ararat Police Station and charged with offences including intentionally obstructing an emergency service worker on duty, refusing to leave a restricted access area and failing to comply with the Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton's directions. All 10 people were bailed to reappear at Ararat Magistrates' Court at a later date.
In addition to the arrests, Victoria Police said there were also a significant number of protesters directed to move on who will receive infringement notices for failing to comply with state government directions.
"Victoria Police respects people's right to protest peacefully and are there to ensure no breaches of the peace or antisocial behaviour occurs as a result of protest action at the site," they said.
"Officers work hard to provide a safe environment for all people involved in protests as well as the broader community."
UPDATE, 4pm: The Western Highway has been re-opened in both directions between Ballarat and Ararat, as police operations have concluded in the area.
The Department of Transport thanks motorists for their patience during this time.
UPDATE, 12.50pm: Twenty-five people have been arrested this morning as part of a police operation.
General duties police are being supported by specialist support units to remove protesters, with no injuries reported as police remove camps and protesters from restricted areas to ensure the safety of all people in the area as highway construction work continues between Buangor and Ararat.
The Western Highway remains closed between Ararat and Ballarat.
A police spokesperson said there was a small group of protesters remaining, with ongoing negotiations taking place for them to leave the restricted area.
"Victoria Police respects people's right to protest peacefully and are there to ensure no breaches of the peace or antisocial behaviour occurs as a result of protest action at the site," they said.
"Officers work hard to provide a safe environment for all people involved in protests as well as the broader community."
EARLIER: The Western Highway between Burrumbeet and Ararat has been shut, according to the Vic Roads website.
Ararat acting Sergeant Silas Stevens said the road was closed due to the Western Highway protests.
"It's in relation to the protest site for the Western Highway duplication. I don't know for how long," he said.
On Monday, allegations were made from protesters at the protest camps that a directions tree was removed from the site.
A spokesperson from Major Roads Projects Victoria said a Fiddleback Tree was removed from near Hillside Road on Monday but it had not been identified as culturally significant by the Registered Aboriginal Party and was not identified as culturally significant by Traditional Owners who sought a protection area for the alignment from the Federal Environment Minister.
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"The tree was assessed by arborists to be unlikely to pre-date European settlement," the spokesperson added.
Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation Chair Jason Mifsud confirmed the tree had undergone extensive surveying by cultural heritage experts.
"Intensive and extensive cultural heritage surveying was conducted," he said.
"The tree wasn't isn't in a list of trees that we were able to negotiate through the environment process."
Major Roads Projects Victoria said the Directions Tree that was identified in the Federal Court proceeding is at the northern end of the alignment and has not and will not be removed.
They also said there have been more than 100 crashes on the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell in recent years, including 11 deaths and more than 50 serious injuries.
The protest site is at Dobie near the Hopkins River crossing where numerous protesters have lived sporadically for several years in tents in opposition to the highway upgrade.
The long-running controversy involves a dispute over RRV plans to remove a number of trees for the project some protesters claim have cultural significance.
Regional Roads Victoria last year was given federal approval to go ahead on the duplication of the last stretch into Ararat following an appeal to the Federal Court.
RRV also adapted its plans last year to avoid an additional 13 trees that may have cultural significance but denies the trees planned for removal now fit this criteria.
The last update was at 7.26am on Tuesday morning.
"The Western Highway is closed in both directions between Ararat and Ballarat due to a police request. Motorists should use the Pyrenees Highway through Avoca, then the Sunraysia Highway to Ballarat," the website read.
"Drivers should allow an extra 30 to 40 minutes using this significant diversion. This closure is under Victoria Police control. The road will re-open when it is safe to do so."
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