The popular Friendly Beaches camping and day-use area at Isaac’s Point will remain closed for the 2023-24 summer season after a bushfire tore through the area, severely damaging infrastructure and destroying buildings last month.
Tasmania’s Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) has confirmed the closure and said that recovery works are still ongoing at the east coast hotspot.
Two toilet blocks, the beach viewing platform, guideposts, fencing and signage were destroyed in the blaze.
PWS Northern Regional Manager Donna Stanley said they are “carefully planning the rehabilitation of the site to ensure it retains the natural and cultural values that make it so special”.
“There remains a number of hazardous trees and large amounts of broken glass and rubbish that has been exposed through the fire. These, along with the burnt fences, toilets and waste pods, pose a risk to the public,” Stanley said.
“We thank the public for their patience while this important work is completed and ask them to continue to observe all signage and not enter the closed sites until it is declared safe to do so.”
She said the clean-up “will take time” and areas will be “reopened progressively” as works are completed.
The bushfire at Coles Bay was the first major incident of the predicted hot and dry fire season in Tasmania.
Campfires, pot fires and solid fuel stoves have been banned in PWS reserves across the state since October 21.
