It has taken a little over six years, but the first Cape Conran replacement cabin from the 2019/20 bushfires is now in place on-site.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said it was a relief and was now pushing for the remainder to be relocated in the near future.

“It’s disgraceful that it has taken so long. Originally, I was told they would be in place within 12 months and ready for the 2021 summer. That then got pushed out to 2023 and then 2025. Here we are well into 2026, and we have only the first in place.”

Mr Bull said frustration is not aimed at local Parks staff, who were as equally frustrated about the slow progress, but at bureaucratic bungling out of Melbourne.

“Locals have seen the cabins sitting in a paddock on Forge Creek Road for more than four years awaiting the sign off to have them moved to site.

“For a government that said it would do everything to assist our economic recovery; it has been a farcical response.

“If Labor was serious about its promise, the cabins would have been fast-tracked and in place within 12 months.

“Some of the hold ups related to cultural heritage matters, but it was departmental dithering and an inability to progress matters more than anything else,” Mr Bull said.

Mr Bull said he looked forward to all cabins being booked out for the September school holidays this year.

Caption: State MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, stands with Cape Conran cabins still in storage on Forge Creek Road, years after Labor promised the replacement would be ready for the 2021 summer holidays.

Monday, 13 April 2026