Cape Conran Coastal Park Bushfire Recovery

Project status

Last updated: November 2025

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Banksia Bluff campground temporary closures in 2026

We are working on new drinking water and wastewater visitor services in the park. When completed the water project will attract and support more visitors to Cape Conran.

The water project is an essential part of recovery works at Cape Conran Coastal Park.

To safely complete the water project construction, we need to limit visitor access to the Banksia Bluff camp sites.

From March to September 2026, we have full and part closure of bookings in the Banksia Bluff campground. The campground will be closed for all campers from Friday 1 May to Saturday 19 September 2026.

The 2026 temporary closures will keep visitors safe as we complete the water project. There will be construction plant and machinery on site to install the new visitor infrastructure.

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


Cape Conran Roofed Accommodation Project

All planning permits, construction permits and approvals have been received for the roofed accommodation precinct at Cape Conran Coastal Park.

The 10 cabins are being constructed off site in Bairnsdale. Of the cabins constructed:

  • one has been delivered to Cape Conran
  • four cabins are ready for delivery
  • five are being constructed

Following delivery of all cabins, services and landscaping will be completed. The cabins are expected to open for visitor to enjoy from summer 2026.

Back and front view of two 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

The next steps for the Cape Conran Coastal Park roofed accommodation project are:

  • planning the delivery of the cabins to Cape Conran
  • working with our contractors and VicRoads on a road transport permit
  • ongoing construction of the office building
  • early works on the community activity centre are underway
  • relocation of the cabins from Bairnsdale to Cape Conran
  • installation and connection of water and electricity services.

Learn more about the Cape Conran Roofed Accommodation Project.

Early works shows white pegs and markers being laid out by a person in high vis on a sandy soil cleared construction site. There is a small digger working in the background stand tall native trees and blue-sky shines brightly above
Pictured: Cape Conran Coastal Park activity centre construction has started.


Cape Conran activity centre and office

Construction has started for the rebuild of the activity centre damaged in the Black Summer bushfires. When completed it will host education and community activities. The purpose-built facility will connect more people to the stunning natural beauty at Cape Conran.

Works are well underway on the new office and staff facilities at Cape Conran. The construction works are being completed onsite by a local contractor based in Orbost — see pictured below the new office being built. Works are expected to be completed in early 2026.


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.


Information and Interpretive signage: activity centre, office and walking tracks

New information signs are complete and have been installed along the walking tracks. The information signs for the office and activity centre are ready to install when the buildings are completed.

A contractor has been appointed for the mural. Work is in progress to design and install the new mural in the activity centre.

Water and wastewater upgrades

The water project is delivering new drinking water and wastewater treatment upgrades. The project supports the delivery of the new roofed accommodation at Cape Conran Coastal Park.

The project will see:

  • drinking water supplied to the 10 cabins
  • upgrades to wastewater management across the Banksia Bluff site.

The project originally planned to install a new water main between Marlo and Cape Conran Coastal Park. As part of the planning for the water pipeline a shared-use path was proposed to run on top of the water pipeline. Early detailed design works showed a shared path on the pipeline was not safe (see below for more information). 

Further updated project design and costings in July 2025 proposed a new water and wastewater plan. The new approach does not include a water pipeline.

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

 

Shared path from Marlo to Cape Conran

Detailed design and further technical assessments showed the proposed shared-use path was not suitable along the water pipeline alignment. As part of the planning for the path:

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

This work showed that to deliver a shared-use path:

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

Our further technical assessments showed the path was beyond the scope of the current Cape Conran Coastal Park water project. The $13.15 million water project funding is:

  • fully committed to the supply of drinking water
  • wastewater infrastructure upgrades
  • water and sewerage services for the new roofed accommodation at Cape Conran.

 

Visitor infrastructure and park services

We are currently prioritising the delivery of visitor infrastructure at the park, including the:

  • roofed accommodation projects
  • customer service building and activity centre
  • essential drinking water services
  • upgrades to existing bore water supply
  • future proofing of wastewater services
  • protection of the local environment and habitats
  • upgrade to other services and infrastructure.

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

 

Yeerung Bridge - complete

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. Read more about it here.


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

Pictured above: The Yeerung River bridge has been repaired. 

 

Walking tracks at Cape Conran Coastal Park - complete

All walking tracks are now open for visitors to explore the park.


East Cape Boardwalk replacement - complete

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 completed East Cape Boardwalk.

 

Project timelines

Roofed accommodation and activity centre and office:

  • Construction is now underway for the Cape Conran activity centre.
  • New visitor office and staff facilities are progressing as planned.
  • Onsite construction to prepare for the cabins is expected to start in late 2025.
  • The activity centre and office works are expected to be completed in early 2026.
  • The cabins are expected to be ready for visitor stays by summer 2026.

Planning for water project and wastewater infrastructure:

  • Planning permits are required for all works and proposed construction at the Cape Conran precinct.
  • The water and wastewater services permit was approved in November 2025.
  • Construction of the water service and wastewater upgrades are expected to start early-2026 and finish in late-2026.

The timelines of other components of this recovery program will be updated as information becomes available.


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:

  • White-Bellied Sea Eagle
  • New Holland Honeyeater
  • Victoria's biggest lizard, the Lace Monitor
  • Southern Brown Bandicoots
  • Long-nosed Potoroos
  • Wombats.

Parks Victoria has carried out a fauna and flora assessment to ensure the project does not impact on any habitat protection zones.

To comply with the bushfire assessment 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).

There are several Traditional Owner groups that have a connection to the area. Parks Victoria are consulting with representatives from various Traditional Owner groups.

While there are currently no Registered Aboriginal Party/Parties for the park, we continue to consult with local Traditional Owner groups and FP-SR on cultural heritage management.


Putting safety first

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
  • Keep to tracks and pathways
  • Stay out of fenced and restricted areas
  • Please follow advice of Parks Victoria staff and work crews.

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.


Access changes

We will do our best to minimise disruption to visitors during construction. Access to some areas of the park will change to keep people safe.

We plan works and update park access before works start. Updates to access and change 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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