CABLE CAR EXCLUSIVE

ALL THE DETAILS FINALLY REVEALED

THE proponents of the cable car project will sell it to the public as a low-impact, environmentally friend- ly tourism investment that will improve the kunanyi/Mt Wellington “experience”.

The Mount Wellington Cableway Company will today reveal that its proposed $50 million cable car project will launch from a clearing along the main fire trail within Mount Wellington Park.

The cableway length is 2.7km with a height gain of almost 1000m, making it “the tallest cable car in the southern hemisphere”. It will go over the Organ Pipes.

HOBART aldermen are calling for a Mount Wellington Cableway Company application due to be discussed in a closed meeting next week to be made public.

Hobart City Council will consider an application from MWCC at a closed meeting of the parks and recreation committee next week where landowners consent is discussed.

The Mercury understands this is because the cable car proponent is seeking permission from Hobart City Council for a flora and fauna study for its proposed new link road.

Parks and recreation committee chairwoman Anna Reynolds said the council’s general manager Nick Heath organised the agenda.

Ald Reynolds said the request for a closed session most likely came from MWCC.

“Any suggestion that any decision would be made behind closed doors would not be accepted by the Hobart community,” she said. “Most alder- men will want this item to be discussed in the open.

“I am calling on the cable car company to withdraw its demand to make discussion of this matter a secret. There is nothing to be gained by asking for their project to be kept behind closed doors.”

Unless the company withdraws its request to have the item on the agenda treated as confidential, it will remain.

Alderman and city planning committee chairman Jeff Briscoe said it was vital for the discussion to be held in the open and he would move a motion at the meeting for that to happen.

“Why the secrecy?” Ald Briscoe asked. “Every other developer that wants to use public land is quite open.”

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Ted Cutlan said MWCC had no social licence.

“You can’t treat the community in this way and expect to succeed,” he said.

Mr Cutlan said more than 5000 people protested against the cable car proposal at Cascade Gardens in one of the biggest rallies seen in Tasmania.