Cable car backers lodge petition

A PETITION supporting the kunanyi/Mount Wellington cable car proposal has attracted 6500 signatures.

The petition calls on State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein to urgently grant the proponent, Mount Wellington Cableway Company, any and all permissions required to conduct investigative works and asserts Tasmania will benefit from this “sustainable, environmentally-responsible” proposal.

Petitioner Graham Murray, who founded the Hobart Cable Car Supporters Lobby group, handed the petition in to Mr Gutwein’s office on Friday.

“The positive response to the petition demonstrates strong community support for the project being able to move towards submitting a development application” Mr Murray said.

The petition argues that a lack of access has been preventing the finalisation of a development application for submission to Hobart City Council.

“A development application will form the basis for proper public assessment and remove speculation and misinformation currently fuelling public debate,” the petition reads.

Last month, Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds was cleared of any cable car bias by a code of conduct panel.

The panel ruled that there was no evidence that Cr Reynolds’ position on the cable car was so fixed it could not be open to being dislodged by reason or argument.

Mr Murray, who lodged the complaint, said he respected the findings of the panel.