The fifth anniversary of the Black Summer Bushfires is just months away and questions are being raised about the progress of fire recovery projects in the region.
Local MP, Tim Bull has questioned why jetties and toilet blocks at Mallacoota and walking trails in the Croajingolong National Park have not been re-built or re-opened.
Speaking in Parliament recently, Mr Bull said these were facilities and toilet blocks important to Mallacoota’s tourism attraction and remain unrepaired since the fires.
“The community rightly wants to know why, and they want a timeframe,” he said.
“With much fanfare the Labor Government recently announced free camping. What East Gippslanders want is their camping sites re-opened and facilities rebuilt.
“Five years on the Thurra River campsite, the region’s biggest, still cannot be accessed because they could not re-build a bridge in five years at a location where one was built 40 years ago.
“At some of the Mallacoota locations, temporary Portaloos were provided and maintained where toilets were damaged, but they have recently been removed without replacement, leaving visitors with no facilities – an environmental concern,” he said.
“Why have the Portaloos been removed from areas around the lake, given they were being used by the public? Is this another cost cutting exercise?” he asked.
Mr Bull said the temporary facilities should not be required after all this time, as these structures should be rebuilt.
He also asked for the community to be given a date when these jetties and toilet blocks would be rebuilt at locations including South West Arm, Sandy Point, Kingfish Point jetty, Goanna Bay and Genoa River fire trail.
“A recent government media release praised itself for opening of 31km of four-wheel drive tracks and walking tracks in Victoria,” Mr Bull said.
“In East Gippsland many local tracks remain closed after two to five years due to fire and flood.
“These include Dunes Track, Saros Track, Sledge Track, Wingan Inlet Rapids Walk, Betka Track, Miners Track, Lakeview Track, Howe Flat Track, Howe Hill Track and Barracoota Track.
“I have also requested a date as to when these will be opened.
“This is of course in addition to the Cape Conran Cabins replacement not even having been started after five years.
“It really is an absolute disgrace for the government that said it would help us in recovery.”
At the time of going to print, it’s been 1741 days since the Cape Conran Cabins were burnt down, 1120 days since the new accommodation for Cape Conran was
announced and 1813 days since the Black Summer Bushfires started in East Gippsland after lighting strikes ignited the region.
Mr Bull called on Parks’ chair, John Pandazopolous and Minister Steve Dimopoulos to give the community some concrete timeframes on all the above.
