The concept of a shared pathway connecting Marlo to Cape Conran has been eagerly discussed among residents for more than a decade.
First brought to light at a Marlo Residents and Ratepayers Association (MRRA) meeting back in 2009, the project gained momentum and in April 2010 when MRRA secretary, Shayne Boyd, outlined the potential benefits in a letter to East Gippsland Shire Council.
Ms Boyd’s letter emphasised how the track could enhance local recreation, boost tourism, and provide significant economic benefits to the community.
On August 23, 2020, the announcement of $13.15 million in Bushfire Recovery funding seemed to bring this vision closer to reality.
The funds were intended to improve essential services at Cape Conran by constructing an underground water pipeline and upgrading the local waste-water system.
Additionally, there was potential for building a shared bike-walking path from Marlo to Cape Conran.
This announcement was met with universal enthusiasm from Marlo residents, who viewed it as a pivotal development for their community.
However, excitement has since turned to frustration.
Despite clear support from the community and the well-documented benefits of the project, there has been no progress on the bike track.
The failure to advance the project or provide updates has left residents feeling disheartened.
The MRRA has consistently advocated for this project, emphasising the benefits such as improved road safety for cyclists, health and wellbeing enhancements, and economic support through tourism—especially crucial as the area transitions from the closure of the native hardwood timber industry to one focused on nature and wilderness tourism.
Following the devastating Black Summer Bushfires, the community was pleased with the announced funding for the Cape Conran “Essential Services Connection and Shared Path.”
This funding, confirmed by Matt Berry of Parks Victoria, combined $7.15 million from BVR Funds and $6 million redirected from Victoria’s Great Outdoors.
Four years later, there is still no evidence of action on the pathway.
The original proposal suggested the pathway could be built alongside the water line, but it is now clear that these need to be treated as separate projects.
East Gippsland Water is focused on the essential services, while the pathway requires specific routing adjacent to C107 (the Marlo-Cape Conran Road), which differs from the waterline route.
East Gippsland Shire Council has indicated its willingness to maintain the pathway if it is designed to be a high quality, low maintenance track with appropriate drainage, surface quality, and safe alignment.
Despite this, the lack of progress has led to disappointment and disillusionment within the community.
Parks Victoria’s response during the online Bushfire Recovery Information Session on November 23, 2023, suggested the pathway was only a ‘potential’ project.
This contrasted with the public signage at Cape Conran, which presents the shared-use pathway as a confirmed part of the overall recovery package.
According to the Parks Victoria website, under the “Water and sewer from Marlo to Conran and shared path” section: “This project was originally scoped to install water and sewer pipelines, and a shared path connecting Cape Conran with Marlo. East Gippsland Water will deliver the water and sewer assets, which are currently at design stage.”
The Cape Conran Coastal Park Bushfire Recovery project, with a budget of $25.6 million and a completion date in 2024, includes crucial improvements such as installing drinking water and wastewater connections, rebuilding the Salmon Rocks boardwalk, constructing new accommodation, and installing the shared-use path between Marlo and Cape Conran.
These improvements are vital for enhancing visitor enjoyment and providing economic benefits to local communities.
The MRRA, along with the East Gippsland Shire Council, the Orbost District Community Recovery and Transition Committee, and the Orbost and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ODCCI), are united in advocating for this project and have openly invited the Ministers to visit Marlo before the end of June to meet with community representatives and restart action on this publicly announced and much-needed commitment.
IMAGE: A shared path between Marlo and Cape Conran has been spruiked by Parks Victoria for more than four years. However, there is still no evidence of the pathway beginning, with Marlo residents becoming increasingly frustrated.
