Strings attached

Glenorchy open to cable car, with conditions

GLENORCHY Mayor Kristie Johnston has declared her city open for business and is urging the cable car proponents to forget South Hobart and consider Glenorchy.

A day after Cascade Brewery’s decision not to sell or lease land to the Mount Wellington Cableway Company to drive the project, Alderman Johnston said her council remained open to the proposal but had not had formal discussion with the cable car company since around 2014.

“In 2014, Glenorchy gave in-principle support for the construction of a cable car from Glenorchy,” she said.

“At the time there was discussion around the table we needed to take extensive public consultation if it was to happen. Council’s position is the same still. We would need to receive a proposal and then engage with our community.”

Ald Johnston said there was a view at the time that Glenorchy was the logical option for the cable car base.

“We would have to go out and test that with the community,” she said.

Confusion has emerged over one of the sites named as a possible base for a cable car — the top of Old Farm Rd.

That location was mooted by the cable car company as a possible base because the company would not need approval from Cascade Brewery. But doubts were raised yesterday if the area could be accessed without brewery approval.

A cable car company spokesman would not confirm if the Old Farm Rd base was still on the cards but said: “For the past few months MWCC has been working flat-out on preparing a fully resolved project to submit for approval and remains committed to this project. We ask people be patient a little longer.”

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Ted Cutlan said he believed — after a chat with Carlton and United Breweries Australian corporate affairs director Julian Sheezel — the Old Farm Rd base was no longer an option.

“MWCC now need to step up and tell the community what is happening,” he said.

Lou-anne Barker, who lives at Old Farm Rd, was delighted with the brewery’s announcement. “Cascade has to be commended,” she said.

Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE DECLARING VICTORY: Some Old Farm Rd residents opposed to a cable car on Mt Wellington are seeing Cascade Brewery’s decision to not supply land for the project as a victory. From left, Brooke Evans, Georgia Evans, 10, Harry Evans, 8, Greg Watson, Annie...