Federal issue of cable car

THE Federal Government could be dragged into the kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car row.

Hobart aldermen tonight will discuss the fallout from State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein’s decision — three days before the State Election — to give the Mount Wellington Cableway Company permission do investigative work on the mountain to prepare a development application for the $54 million proposal.

THE Federal Government could be dragged into debate on the kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car project amid Hobart City Council’s continuing concerns over drilling and surveying permissions on the mountain.

At tonight’s full meeting of the council, Hobart aldermen will discuss the fallout from the decision by State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein to grant the Mount Wellington Cableway Company authority to enter the site and do inves- tigative work to prepare a development application for the $54 million proposal. The authority by Mr Gutwein was granted on January 25 — three days before the Government went into caretaker mode.

Objectors to the proposal said it was another example of the secrecy that had defined the project.

The MWCC says it will unveil pinnacle design plans in coming months.

After Mr Gutwein granted the authority to enter — part of legislation passed through State Parliament last year which allowed the Govern- ment to seize land and MWCC to speed up the project — council wrote to Mr Gutwein concerned the authority did not address heritage issues or require any consultation with the Aboriginal community.

The Aboriginal community says the cable car development defies the cultural significance of the mountain.

Council concerns increased after a Parks and Recreation Committee meeting this month when objector Ted Cutlan said council might be obligated to refer the proposed activities to the Federal Gov- ernment for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The council has also raised concerns over liability for any potential damage to the mountain under the authority, the exact nature of the works and the impact on vegetation.

Committee chairwoman Ald Anna Reynolds said a further report had been requested to investigate those issues.

“We were informed at the committee meeting that we could have an obligation to refer it under the EPBC Act in the case that it could affect any threatened species or fauna,” she said.

“We have to be sure that we are not in breach of anything.”

Mr Gutwein said that any activity must be in compliance with a range of statutory requirements.

Meanwhile, the push for a visitor centre at The Springs is set to receive a major boost from council tonight when it votes in open session whether to give approval for the concept to progress to the “investment phase”.