There has been a years-long battle to establish whether or not trees near Mount Langi Ghiran were ‘Birthing Trees’ which Aboriginal people hollowed out by fire and were used as places to give birth.

Some Elders say the Indigenous group designated by the state government to advise on cultural heritage for the duplication project between Ararat and Buangor was not representative of all Indigenous people in the region. 

Gillian Trebilcock said Aunty Sandra Onus explicitly told senior government executives the trees were of Aboriginal significance, with markings and scars being easier to establish than past use. 

Ms Trebilcokc said Aunty Sandra also told them to preserve and protect the spatial contours of the landscape.

VicRoads North Western projects director Nigel Powers said there had been a rigorous assessment of these trees by Aboriginal Victoria, which included field inspections with Traditional Owners.

“Aboriginal Victoria determined that the trees do not have cultural heritage significance and that VicRoads could proceed with the Western Highway duplication,” he said.

Residents had asked for registration on the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Registry of a possible scarred tree, a possible birthing tree and trees described as an Aunty tree, which had been assessed.