As the rebuild of Parks Victoria infrastructure destroyed in the fires 19 months ago moves at snail’s pace, East Gippslanders are starting to ask why Minister Lily D’Ambrosio is not intervening to get things moving.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, last week again raised the slow rebuild of Parks Victoria infrastructure in the Victorian Parliament, citing the Thurra River Bridge as an example of the inaction.
“This bridge, which provides access to the Thurra River Campground – one of our area’s biggest – and the Point Hicks Lighthouse and accommodation, has a timeframe of just on three years.
“Parks is not even doing the work, they just have to put it out to tender and they can’t seem to manage that. They say it is complicated, but at the end of the day it’s a bridge and the bridge builders will sort it – that’s what they do, just put the tender out!
“The Thurra River campground is important to the economy of Cann River where camping families and groups stock up and replenish supplies.
“The only access is over this bridge and we are being told it will be late 2022 until it is rebuilt. Three years for one bridge, it is disgraceful.”
Mr Bull said he has raised the issue in Parliament several times, with Minister Lily D’Ambrosio in the chamber, but she seems to show no interest and has not visited the area to try and get things moving.
“It’s not just the Thurra bridge, the popular Cape Conran boardwalk still has police tape up, as does the McKenzie River Rainforest Walk, day locations around Mallacoota Lake and a large number of tourist walking trails.
“When you ask, all you get is a list of what they have done. On July 5 I was told that within 10 days I would have a list of all sites with a progress report and completion date – here we are in mid-August and nothing.
“This is the government led by a Premier who stood in front of the cameras in Bairnsdale, with me, and said he would support us every step of this recovery. To date not he, or the Minister responsible, has been back as we tick past 19 months since the fires and the recovery works remain idle in many locations,” Mr Bull said.
Caption: Locations around Mallacoota Lake, like Sandy Point, still have access denied.
