Cape Conran Coastal Park Bushfire Recovery

Project status

Updated May 2026

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The Cape Conran program of works brings together bushfire recovery works, delivery of new roofed accommodation, and upgrades to essential infrastructure, including water and wastewater systems. Together, these works are focused on rebuilding critical facilities, improving visitor safety and accessibility, and supporting year round use of the park. 

Banksia Bluff campground temporary closures in 2026

Essential works are scheduled to install and upgrade drinking water and wastewater systems to Cape Conran Accommodation and new septic tanks and pump stations in Banksia Bluff Campground.

Safe and reliable water and wastewater infrastructure is essential to support new roofed accommodation, the office and activity centre, and long term visitor use at Cape Conran Coastal Park.

To allow construction to be completed safely, Banksia Bluff Campground will be closed from late May through to early November 2026.

The current temporary closure period is Sunday 24 May to end of October 2026.

We are working closely with contractors to track works and provide as much notice as possible ahead of closures. This stage of work is about making sure the campground can operate safely and reliably into the future, while protecting the surrounding environment.

The campground will reopen once works are complete, with improved, more reliable infrastructure. Updates will be shared as work progresses and when the campground is close to reopening.

Learn more about Banksia Bluff campground temporary closures for water upgrades.

To learn more about the revised water and wastewater project read our fact sheet on the Cape Conran Coastal Park water project plan.

Cape Conran Roofed Accommodation Project

Construction of the new roofed accommodation is underway, with the first cabin delivered to site, and remaining cabins manufactured and ready for progressive delivery over the coming months.

Back and front view of 2 cabins with a third cabin showing a built-in outdoor seating area. The cabins have green roofs, black eaves and green coloured timber cladding for the walls. There are black framed windows in the walls.

Pictured: View of the prefabricated Cape Conran cabins close to completion at the builder’s yard in Bairnsdale. 

Roofed accommodation project next steps

  • planning delivery and placement of the cabins at Cape Conran
  • installation and connection of water and electricity services and landscaping.

The cabins are expected to be ready for visitor stays by summer 2026. You can learn more about the Cape Conran Roofed Accommodation Project.

Two Parks Victoria team members are smiling standing in front of the timber frame of the new Cape Conran office building. There is green grass in the foreground, tall trees behind and the sky above is cloudy but bright
Pictured: Parks Victoria’s staff inspecting the Cape Conran Coastal Park office construction site.

Cape Conran activity centre and office completed April 2026

The new customer service office and staff facilities at Cape Conran are open and operational. Construction works were completed in April 2026 by a local contractor.

The rebuild of the activity centre damaged in the Black Summer bushfires is complete. The purpose-built facility will host education and community activities connecting more people to the stunning natural beauty and biodiversity of Cape Conran. Work is in progress to design and install a new mural in the activity centre.

Water and wastewater upgrades

The water project is delivering water supply and wastewater treatment upgrades.

The project will see drinking water and sewerage services supplied to the 10 cabins and upgrades to wastewater management across the Banksia Bluff site.

Marlo to Cape Conran pipeline and shared path proposals

Revised project design and costings in July 2025 proposed a new water and wastewater plan which does not include a water pipeline.

The project originally proposed a shared-use path aligned with the water pipeline. However technical assessment showed a shared path was not safe and beyond the scope of the current Cape Conran Coastal Park water project.

As part of the planning for the path Parks Victoria:

  • completed additional design work
  • assessed safety and accessibility of the proposed alignment
  • reviewed long-term maintenance requirements
  • assessed environmental impacts and other technical information.

Detailed design and further technical assessments showed the proposed shared-use path was not suitable along the water pipeline alignment and that delivery of a shared use path would require:

  • a new alignment away from road traffic
  • planning for a new location
  • redesign of the proposed project
  • new approvals and permits
  • additional funding.

When tourism enabling works are complete, we will work with the relevant stakeholders to determine the feasibility of a shared-use path. 

Delivering renewed visitor infrastructure and park services

The program is being delivered in stages to manage environmental sensitivities, cultural heritage requirements, construction sequencing and visitor safety. Many key visitor and operational facilities have already been restored or upgraded, including campground facilities, walking tracks and information and interpretive signage. 

Completed projects

Yeerung Bridge

Yeerung River bridge sustained significant damage during the April 2022 flood event. Works to repair the bridge are complete and the bridge is open again to pedestrians and vehicles.

The bridge provides access across Yeerung River for people walking along Estuary View Walking Track, and vehicles travelling to Yeerung Gorge and through to Bemm River. You can read more about the Yeerung River Bridge repair on our website. 

A concrete bridge with railing extends over a small river, surrounded by trees.

Pictured above: The Yeerung River bridge was repaired in 2024.  

East Cape Boardwalk replacement

The works on the boardwalk are complete and the boardwalk is now open for visitors to enjoy.

Photo of timber boardwalk following the coastline with sea in the background

Pictured above: The boardwalk is now open for visitors to enjoy.  

Environmental management

Cape Conran Coastal Park has 11 ecological vegetation communities. It is also home to 41 mammal species and 170 species of birds, including the White-Bellied Sea Eagle, Victoria's biggest lizard the Lace Monitor, Southern Brown Bandicoots and Long nosed Potoroos.

Parks Victoria carried out fauna and flora assessments to ensure renewal projects do not impact on habitat protection zones.  To comply with bushfire risk assessments and to improve access, some trees have been removed from the site.

Cultural heritage management

Parks Victoria engaged a cultural heritage consultant to prepare the cultural heritage assessments at the site. As part of the assessments the consultant engaged with First Peoples - State Relations (FP-SR) to implement a Cultural Heritage Management Plan.

While there are currently no Registered Aboriginal Party/Parties for the park, there are several Traditional Owner groups that have a connection to the area. We continue to consult with representatives of local Traditional Owner groups and FP-SR on cultural heritage management.

Putting safety first

Parks Victoria is responsible for continuously managing and maintaining over 50,000 pieces of infrastructure across the state annually.

We are delivering new projects and facilities to help more visitors get into nature.

Visitor safety is our number one priority when considering risk in parks. While nature will always be unpredictable, our projects and maintenance works are planned with safety as our top priority.

When visiting a park where projects and construction are ongoing please follow the direction of signs, Parks Victoria staff and work crews; keep to tracks and pathways and stay out of fenced and restricted areas. 

Access changes

We will do our best to minimise disruption to visitors during construction. We plan works and update park access before works start. 

Access to some areas of the park will change to keep people safe. Updates to access and changes of conditions are published on the Cape Conran Coastal Park page.

Project funding

The project is delivering an investment of over $29 million in recovery, tourism and upgrade works at Cape Conran. Funding for the project is from the:

  • Gippsland Tourism Recovery Package: $3.5 million — Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR)
  • Victorian Great Outdoors — Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)
  • DEECA bushfire recovery funding: $16.05 million
  • Insurance funds of approximately $9 million.

Related information

Cape Conran Coastal Park bushfire recovery

Here is a behind the scenes look at the vegetation recovery process with our Area Chief Ranger.

Flora recovery after bushfire at Cape Conran Coastal Park

Ranger Matt shows how the coastal environment regenerates after bushfire.

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