CABLE CAR GAG PUSH
Mayor seeks silencer on aldermen
HOBART alderman have been warned to keep their opinions on the controversial cable car project to themselves or risk breaching the aldermanic code of conduct.
Mayor Ron Christie has publicly cautioned his councillors after Anna Reynolds addressed a crowd at an impromptu rally held by Residents Opposed to the Cable Car and Respect the Mountain — No Cable Car groups at South Hobart on Saturday.
The groups were opposing the latest proposed cable car plans, as revealed by the Mercury earlier that morning, for a base station at Wellington Park with a new 2.5km road to be built adjacent to the McRobies Gully tip.
Aldermen Jeff Briscoe and Bill Harvey also attended the rally but did not speak publicly. Ald Christie said aldermen considering re-election were too close to the issue and could be subject to scrutiny under law.
ALDERMEN risk breaching their code of conduct if they publicly comment on the controversial cable car project, says Mayor Ron Christie.
The mayor’s warning comes after Ald Anna Reynolds addressed a 12-strong crowd at an impromptu rally held by Residents Opposed to the Cable Car and Respect the Mountain — No Cable Car groups at South Hobart on Saturday.
The groups were opposing the latest proposed cable car plans, as revealed by the Mer
cury, for a base station at Well- ington Park with a new 2.5km road to be built adjacent to the McRobies Gully tip.
Aldermen Jeff Briscoe and Bill Harvey also attended the rally but did not speak publicly.
But Ald Christie said aldermen considering re-election were too close to the issue and could be subject to scrutiny under law particularly if the development application was refused.
“If a development appli- cation comes before council prior to the election in the next 12 weeks, and I doubt it will, I will officially ask aldermen to seriously consider their professional position under the Local Government Act and council’s code of conduct, their personal interest of support for the project or perceived interest or bias against the project,” he said.
“I will also request that aldermen defer any cable car matters until a new council is elected.
Ald Christie and Ald Marti Zucco revealed their public backing of a cable car project., to the Mercury in 2011.
I have attended these events to inform people about the extent and limits of council’s role and about the need for an open and transparent process ALD ANNA REYNOLDS
Ald AAnna RReynolds, who also attended the Mountain Mayday rally earlier in the year, defended her right to be at the rallies.
“I have attended these events to inform people about the extent and limits of council’s role and about the need for an open and transparent process,” she said.
“At all events I have attended on this issue, I have refrained from making comments for or against the cable car project.”
Ald Reynolds confirmed that a report dealing with the new link road would be placed on the open agenda for Thurs- dday’s’ councilil parks and recre-recreation committee meeting and made available to the public on its website from noon today.
Ald Zucco said, given Ald Reynolds was the parks and recreation committee chairwoman, she should not have attended the rallies.
“No alderman should be at a anti-cable car rally nor should they be at a pro-cable car rally,” he said.
In a Facebook post on June 28 to the Respect the Mountain — No Cable Car group, Ald Briscoe wrote: “I have called upon the Mt Wellington Cable Car Co on ABC tonight
toto ‘kiss the mountain’ goodbye and abandon their doomed project”.
Ald Briscoe defended the comments saying they were made in relation to the refusal by Cascade Brewery to build the base on its land.
Ald Briscoe said it was hypocritical for both Ald Christie and Ald Zucco to suggest aldermen should refrain from commenting, given they have both supported a cable car project in the past. An article printed in the
Mercury in 2011 had Ald Zucco, Ald Christie and then lord mayoral candidates Peter Sexton and Damon Thomas joininjoining forces to call on devel- opers to submit plans.
The quartet said a cable car made sense for all-year access, easing traffic on Pinnacle Rd, tourism and the environment.
“Cable cars, ropeways or aerial tramways are successful tourist attractions worldwide, including Dunedin, San Francisco and Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro to mention a few,’’ Ald Christie said at the time.
“If an entrepreneur approaches Hobart with a similar viable concept for Mt Wellington then we, the council, should embrace it.’’