Brewery protest’s cascading effect
MOUNT Wellington cable car opponents have gained a prominent new ally in renowned architect Robert Morris-Nunn.
A protest against the proposed project was held yesterday afternoon outside the Cascade Brewery in South Hobart.
Current planning for the cable car project includes the use of land owned by the brewery.
Protest participants, including representatives from the Tasmanian Greens, The Wilderness Society and community groups, Residents Opposed to the Cable Car and Respect the Mountain, have signed an open letter calling on the management of Carlton and United Brew- eries, which owns the brewery, to rule out support for the proposal.
It will be forwarded to CUB parent company AB InBev in Belgium.
“We are determined to stop the proposed cable car, and similar developments, ruining our backyard. We will continue to work relentlessly to ensure this happens,” the letter reads.
Prof Morris-Nunn, whose projects include the Saffire Resort, MACq 01 and the Henry Jones Art Hotel, was also a signatory to the letter.
The award-winning architect submitted the only expression of interest to the Hobart City Council when it called for ideas for development at The Springs half way up the mountain in 2015.
However, Prof Morris-Nunn told the Mercury yesterday that the project was on hold pending the council looking at other options for the site.
He said positive development was needed on the mountain and he did not believe a cable car fit.
Mt Wellington Cableway Company chair Jude Franks said the company welcomed the opportunity for the community to express its opinion.
“Like Skyrail in Cairns, which our project manager built, we appreciate that not everyone likes this idea and will continue to protest right up until the day we open — we respect and understand that,” she said.
“Experience will show protesters and their rationale will be quickly forgotten once our doors open and the inclusive benefits inherent in our project are delivered.”
The council is waiting for the MWCC to lodge a development application following the passage of legislation to acquire land at the pinnacle of kunanyi/Mt Wellington through State Parliament in September.
Ms Franks said the company was on track to submit one next year and would reveal further design details over summer.
Earlier this week, a CUB spokesman said the company had not yet taken a position on the proposed cable car, but would continue to consult with the community.
“CUB is committed to the Cascade Brewery and ensuring that neither its operations nor the local environment are negatively impacted by any development,” he said.