Cable car plan B claim

THE Mt Wellington cable car proponent denies an alternative route has been identified to deal with planning issues or potential opposition to the project from the Cascade Brewery.

Locals believe a plan B has been developed that would result in the cable car station being moved farther up the mountain.

The Mercury has been told a starting point close to the Inglewood Fire Trail is being considered, a suggestion the Mount Wellington Cableway Company has dismissed.

“Inglewood fire trail has not been considered,” chair Jude Franks said.

Such an alternative would cut out the need for approval from Cascade owner Carlton & United Breweries, instead using Wellington Park, locals say.

Ms Franks said alternative routes were assessed whenever landowners expressed an interest in becoming involved in the project. “For several years, as stated on our website, [the cable car company] has considered and continues to assess offers from numerous landowners to relocate the project onto their land titles,” she said.

Carlton & United has agreed to allow the cable car company access to its land as it prepares a development application, but has not backed the proposal.

State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein granted the cable car company the authority to undertake investigative work for the $54 million proposal before this month’s election.

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Ted Cutlan said the project would be opposed regardless of where it was located.

“The cable car company have always talked about alternative start points undisclosed on their website,” Mr Cutlan said. “Why undisclosed? Why don’t the cable car company come clean on their plans?”

Ms Franks said height restrictions imposed by Hobart City Council on the brewery land were another significant hurdle to be overcome.

She said limits had been included in the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme after the public launch of the cableway proposal in 2014, and the cable car company was considering whether to challenge them.

“These height limits would make it extremely difficult to minimise the number of towers and keep the cableway above the canopy,” Ms Franks said.

The Glenorchy City Council has previously said it wanted a base station for the cable car in its municipality.

A Carlton & United spokesman said the company had no comment.

The Hobart City Council was contacted for comment.