The Marlo to Cape Conran shared path, to be delivered through the bushfire recovery funding announced in 2020, is not even at design stage, according to the Minister for Environment, Ingrid Stitt.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, is disappointed this project, like so many in the Marlo and Cape Conran region, has not been given the priority status it deserves to support tourism in this beautiful area.
“In 2020, I supported the investment of the Marlo to Cape Conran share bicycle and pedestrian pathway and I have been eagerly awaiting its delivery,” Mr Bull said.
“As it is now August, three years down the track, and I see no visible progression of the pathway’s construction, I sought an update of the project from the Minister, seeking a completion date for the project.
“I was shocked to be informed the project has not progressed at all and remains at the preliminary design and planning stage.
“This is typical of the Andrews Labor Government. Its treatment of critical projects in East Gippsland has been absolutely disgraceful.
“The large-scale bushfire recovery projects at Cape Conran all sit at a standstill. The East Cape Boardwalk is not finished, the cabins are not ready for visitors and this new and exciting link between Marlo and Cape Conran, is not even planned.
“We deserve better. We’ve been smashed by the bushfires, tourism halted due to the pandemic, and most recently, the closure of the timber industry.
“If communities like Orbost are expected to transition from being a timber industry reliant economy to tourism, we need the actual tourism infrastructure available to have any chance of survival.
“The Minister must prioritise these projects like it does for urban greenspace parklands in Melbourne, because if she did, the shared pathway will be delivered in no time,” said Mr Bull.
Caption: Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, is disappointed the Marlo to Cape Conran shared pathway has not progressed beyond design stage, three years after the project was funded.

Monday, 14 August, 2023