This article is more than 11 months old

This article is more than 11 months old

Works will resume on a controversial Victorian highway upgrade after a partial agreement was struck between the state government and protesters and traditional owners protecting sacred, Indigenous birthing trees.

Construction will now start on duplicating a 3.8km stretch of the Western Highway.

Mediation over the protection of two more sacred trees is ongoing. Construction will go ahead on one section of the 12km project that is some distance from those trees.

“Even though the two registered groups that represent the Djab Wurrung people have formally approved the project, we have entered into this agreement as a show of good faith with the protesters,” the transport minister, Jacinta Allan, said on Thursday.

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But the rest of the works will have to wait, as traditional owner protesters challenge a federal government decision to not declare heritage protection for the trees, where women would go to give birth. Activists have set up camp at the site, between Buangor and Ararat, delaying construction since June last year.

Protesters known as the Djab Wurrung Embassy have welcomed the changes and said that it was a least-invasive and cheaper alternative to the original design. “This will enable the duplication alignment to be built six months faster, at far less cost and with best, least cultural heritage and environment impacts,” the group said.

The road’s design was realigned in February to save 15 ancient trees from being knocked down, Allan confirmed.