Cable car tensions brewing

War of words over land decision

CARLTON and United Breweries has hit back at claims from the Mount Wellington Cableway Company that it was grandstanding when it announced it would not allow any cable car infrastructure to be built on Cascade land.

The war of words comes as MWCC also lashed out at anticable car groups, saying they were waging “corporate and personal terrorism” against shareholders of the cable car project.

But Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Ted Cutlan said his group had and would continue to conduct itself in a peaceful and civil manner.

MWCC chairwoman Jude Franks has accused Carlton and United Breweries of “grandstanding” when it announced it would not sell or lease any Cascade land for the proposed cable car.

“We actually advised CUB two weeks prior to them making the media call that we didn’t require their land,” she said.

“We had made a decision on a shorter route earlier this year.

“That was grandstanding at best and rolling over to the vocal minority.”

A Carlton spokesman said the cable car company’s claim was not true.

“In fact the MWCC flew to our offices in Melbourne just weeks before our announcement to try to persuade us to either sell or lease it part of our property near Old Farm Rd,” he said.

“They even flew one of their designers from Queensland to lobby us as part of their campaign.

“We delivered our rejection to their request on June 26.”

Yesterday, Ms Franks said shareholders for the $50 million venture had received threatening letters and emails from groups and individuals against the project.

“What we have had is a malicious, consistent campaign of corporate terrorism and personal terrorism waged by these people who sit behind what they say is social and environmental stewardship,” she said.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission papers show more than two million ordinary shares and 852,000 preference shares have been issued for the company to a tune of almost $1.3 million.

MWCC chief executive Adrian Bold and his company Riser and Gain own almost two million shares. The shareholders include Tiger Island Nominees, the company of respected tourism operator Lloyd Clark; former Bellamy’s Australia director Tony Shadforth’s company Suetone; and Craig Ferguson, the project manager for the $18 million golf course development earmarked for South Arm and Opossum Bay, south of Hobart.

Tourism Tasmania chairman James Cretan and yachtsman Phillip Turner own 250,000 shares through their jointly owned company Tucre.

Other backers include Maydena Mountain Bike Park manager Simon French through his company Dirt Art (6560 shares).