East Gippsland jetties, boardwalks and cabins still not rebuilt, 16 months after bushfires

It’s been 16 months since East Gippsland’s bushfires but some infrastructure is still in ruins — and reconstruction is a long way off.

Tim Bull at the damaged eastern boardwalk at Cape Conran, which has not been rebuilt.

Vital tourism infrastructure that was burnt out in the devastating bushfires across East Gippsland has still not been rebuilt, 16 months on.

Work to fix boardwalks, jetties, holiday cabins, trails and even picnic tables is still in the planning stage or out to tender.

Three jetties around Mallacoota are burnt-out ruins while a popular coastal boardwalk attraction at Cape Conran is still in the “planning process”.

Tim Bull, state MP for Gippsland East, said it was time for Parks Victoria “to get their finger out”.

“If this infrastructure had been burnt in the Fitzroy Gardens or on the banks of the Yarra it would have been fixed within weeks,’’ Mr Bull said.

Tim Bull at the entrance to the damaged eastern boardwalk at Cape Conran, Gippsland

The pace of repair by Parks Victoria was too slow for areas that depended on the tourism dollar, he said.

“The government constantly told us it would ‘walk with us’ through the recovery process. Not only have these important tourism projects not been started we don’t even have a time frame.’’

He called for work to be completed by the September school holidays so visitors can book for the spring-summer holiday periods with confidence.

Much of Cape Conran Coastal Park and Croajingolong National Park burnt to the beach when the fires ripped through the region in over the new year period at the start of 2020.

Mr Bull said many people visited the region for camping, hiking, fishing and boating.

Cape Horn jetty, at Mallacoota, escaped the fires but is still taped up and needs repair.

“This is so important to the local economy,’’ he said.

Eight holiday cabins and glamping retreats in the Banksia Bluff campground at Cape Conran will be rebuilt but won’t go out to tender for another month, with the first stage of construction expected to be completed by December.

Lions Club members rebuilt steps down to the beach at Bastion Point at Mallacoota within two weeks of the fires being put out.

Parks Victoria eastern regional director Chris Corbell said much recovery work had been done and that the rebuilding of fire-affected facilities was continuing to provide visitors a better holiday.

Five glamping retreats will be rebuilt at Cape Conran. Pic: Parks Victoria

Salmon Rocks boardwalk at Cape Conran reopened in September. Pic: Parks Victoria

“Cape Conran Coastal Park was extensively impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires, including the loss of three cabins, all five wilderness retreats, three of the four sections of the East Cape boardwalk and the Salmon Rocks beach-access boardwalk.

“Providing diverse options for accommodation in Victoria’s parks is just one of the ways we are connecting people with parks and enhancing their nature experiences.”

The bushfires damaged 463,000 hectares of Parks Victoria land, destroying more than $50 million of built assets across the east of the state.

The state government pledged $16.6 million to improve visitor facilities at Cape Conran Coastal Park including $3.5 million for accommodation.

The new Salmon Rocks beach-access boardwalk reopened last September.

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Originally published as East Gippsland jetties, boardwalks and cabins still not rebuilt, 16 months after bushfires