As of today, Wednesday, January 15, 2025, it’s been 1882 days since bushfires across East Gippsland were ignited by lightning strikes.
More specifically, it’s been 1810 days since three of seven cabins at Cape Conran and all five wilderness retreats burnt down.
Since then, the project to rebuild and install the new cabins has stalled and hit roadblocks, despite the State Government claiming it had reopened every recreation site which had been impacted by the Black Summer Bushfires in January 2022, three years ago.
The government also spruiked in August 2020 that Cape Conran would be visitor-ready by that Christmas – four-and-a-half years later and Cape Conran is yet to be visitor-ready.
The cabin complex at Cape Conran was developed around 1988 and consisted of an office, a manager’s residence, depot buildings, seven cabins and a lodge. The only water supply was bore water (not potable) and waste water disposal was through septic systems.
In about 2014, an addition to the site was five wilderness retreat eco tents and associated facilities.
Along with three of the seven cabins, the office, the manager’s residence (which was being used as an office) and the depot buildings were destroyed by the February fire.
This left four cabins and a lodge standing on site, however the cabins were decommissioned and removed after it was decided they had reached the end of their serviceable life and no longer met safety, accessibility and bushfire compliance standards, leaving only the lodge.
There was also some minor damage to PVC plumbing fittings, etc, on those remaining cabins and damage to the bore water supply system.
Ironically, Parks Victoria’s website still says visitors can stay in the self-contained timber cabins at Cape Conran.
It’s not just the Cape Conran Cabins that are on hold – the wait is also continuing for a shared path between Marlo and Cape Conran.
New Water Minister, Gayle Tierney, has been asked to immediately release the tenders to provide the reticulated water supply from Marlo to Cape Conran and associated sewage works.
Local MP, Tim Bull, said it was imperative expressions of interest were called for early this year.
In a letter to Ms Tierney, Mr Bull said it is four-and-a-half years since the announcement of $13.15 million to supply both reticulated water/sewage to Cape Conran and the construction of a bicycle track between Marlo and Cape Conran.
“These were projects I strongly advocated for after the 2019/20 fires and was delighted when adopted, but it is incredibly disappointing nothing has been done in the more than four years,” Mr Bull said.
“I am reliably advised the water connection has to take place first as, in some cases, the bike path will pass over the top of the easement, so we don’t want to be digging up a new bike path to lay pipes.
“On many occasions I asked former Water Minister Harriet Shing to expedite this project, as did local community groups.
“Unfortunately, despite it being in her Upper House electorate, nothing was done, and I don’t think she even bothered visiting the site – let alone give completion timeframes.
“With a new Minister, I am now making a fresh approach to have the tenders for the water supply put out early this year, so we can finally get on with the job.
“This will be the first step in getting the two projects completed.”
Mr Bull said he was also aware the Parks Victoria proposal for the bike path was still to be finalised, and that after such a long period of time this was simply not good enough.
“We need to be in a position that when the water supply is connected, the bike path can be commenced immediately after,” he said.
