All 10 replacement accommodation cabins are now in position at Banksia Bluff as Parks Victoria pushes forward with final site preparation and landscaping at the Cape Conran Coastal Park.
Addressing a recent Marlo Ratepayers and Residents’ Association (MRRA) meeting, Parks Victoria Orbost Area Ranger Susie Cutluck outlined key development updates across the coastal reserve, confirming that the new park office and community hall have also been completed.
The milestone forms part of the ongoing, multi-million-dollar Bushfire Recovery rebuild program following the devastating 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires, which wiped out the majority of the popular accommodation infrastructure at Banksia Bluff, including the historic log cabins.
During groundworks, the footprint of the new cabins was shifted eastwards following the discovery of significant Aboriginal cultural artifacts, stone tool fragments, and archaeological evidence. Parks Victoria worked alongside Traditional Owner groups to ensure the heritage of the site was protected, while the original camping grounds remain in their historic position.
Infrastructure works are currently underway to service the upgraded precinct, including a new on-site wastewater and sewage system that will treat and disperse waste within the reserve. Potable water storage is also being connected directly to the new cabins and the nearby lodge.
However, bore water will continue to be used across general camping sites — an outcome MRRA President Shayne Boyd said was a disappointment to community members and visitors who had anticipated upgraded drinking water connections across the entire precinct following the fire recovery investments.
Despite the water supply limitation for tent campers, the arrival of the modular cabins and completion of public infrastructure mark a major step toward fully restoring tourism and visitor capacity to one of East Gippsland’s premier coastal wilderness destinations.
