Upper House to decide fate of mountain

No promises on Wellington cableway

LABOR is providing no guarantees on State Government legislation to acquire land on kunanyi/Mt Wellington to make way for a cable car.

The cable car legislation is among a number of key Bills the Liberals hope to progress through State Parliament during the last session before a state election.

The legislation waives landowner consent for a development application and paves the way for the Government to acquire the land needed for the development.

If passed, the law will allow proponent Adrian Bold’s Mount Wellington Cableway Company to access Mt Wellington Park to do assessments and prepare a development application without the consent of Hobart City Council.

From there, the project will be assessed under the normal planning process.

Consultation on the draft legislation closed yesterday and a State Government spokesman said a Bill would be tabled during the spring session of Parliament, which starts next week.

“The Hodgman Government is committed to growing the economy and creating jobs through sensitive and sensible development in the state’s natural areas,” the government spokesman said.

“A cable car on Mt Wellington would be a game changer. It would showcase one of our most stunning natural landmarks, it would make the pinnacle more accessible to more people and, of course, it would create new jobs for Tasmanians.”

The Government would not be drawn on its chances of getting the cable car legislation through the Upper House.

If Labor opposes the Bill the Government will need to con- vince at least six independents to support it.

Opposition Leader Rebecca White said Labor would consider its position once the final Bill was tabled.

“Both sides of the debate have problems with the Government’s draft legislation so it needs to be scrutinised closely,” Ms White said.

“Labor is open to alternative modes of transport on kunanyi/Mt Wellington, including a cable car. However, any proposals for kunanyi/Mt Wellington must be assessed through an open, transparent and inclusive process.”

Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath wrote to state MPs last month outlining the council’s “grave concerns” about the plan to acquire land on kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Mr Heath said the council was concerned the Government was setting a dangerous precedent by moving to acquire public land for the benefit of a private development.