Cable car moving at last
MT WELLINGTON
WELL done Peter Gutwein, a positive move at last to enable the Mount Wellington Cableway Company access to council land to enable it to prepare and submit a planning proposal to Hobart City Council. People should get their facts straight; the proposed cable car passes 120 metres north of the Organ Pipes, not over it. A great plan because those in the cable car will be able to see the beauty of them. As far as “massive commercial development on top of the Organ Pipes” goes, I suggest Ted Cutlan and others opposing the project go to the Brooke Street Pier and view the proposed structure. Go MWCC. tactics along the lines of “the State Government supports a cable car so, just suck it up”! With so many opposed to the current cable car development it is somewhat puzzling for Mr Gutwein to simply ignore public opinion and the Hobart City Councils decision and to go ahead anyway.
Commonsense wins
WILL Hodgman and his government have delivered, commonsense has prevailed, One has to applaud the decision to grant access to land, which will allow the cable car company security about its project. Seems it’s here to stay. Full steam ahead.
That mountain’s gone
A DRIVER behind Paul Smith’s opinion (Talking Point, January 29) appears to echo the push to terminate major Mt Wellington Park visitor experiences at The Springs, with no apparent regard “for those who can’t or don’t want to walk up the mountain”. But what of the 300,000plus locals and visitors a year who prefer to get up-close-and-personal with the mountain by car, bus, climb/abseil, mountain bike, hang-glide (and dare l mention the proposed cableway)? One can to a degree affiliate with Smith’s (perhaps more romantic) retro-look for our park. Yes, some people are innately drawn to “the large mass of Mount Wellington, looming clouds, the broad expanse of the River Derwent and the nearby open grasslands” (National Gallery, Canberra), as depicted in John Glover’s 1834 masterpiece ( Mount Tasmanian Government’s stamp duty windfall ‘should be invested in housing’ It would be better to rein in outrageous “stamp duty” fees. Wellington and Hobart Town from Kangaroo Point). Frankly, neither Glover’s classic colonial Hobart imagery nor a mountain “complete with penthouses and elevators bolted on to the Organ Pipes” will ever happen. Hobart is a modern, dynamic capital renowned for its waterfront and gentle foothills. Moreover, no one has the right to limit (or roll back) the range of access options to the park. It’s a matter of personal choice — and experience.
Checks and balances
PLEASE stop calling essential checks and balances that protect our society and environment “hurdles” ( Mercury, February 14). Reserved land, planning laws, democratically elected councillors and landowner consent are not hurdles. They are essential checks and balances to stop people getting too big for their boots and spoiling our country. Also, if the State Government wants a cable car (it’s not their land so it’s not up to them, but whatever), surely as a government organisation they should be calling for tenders for the project and not just handing it over on a silver platter?
What about parking?
READER Joseph Vagunda suggests a cable car might reduce 350,000 car trips per year up Mt Wellington ( Mercury, February 9). Just one question, where will 350,000 cars park while the drivers are up the mountain?
There goes the truth
THE truth is already a casualty, and the federal election hasn’t even officially been called yet.
All talk on congestion
INTERESTING to see a spokeswoman advised that the State Government already has a plan to reduce traffic congestion which doesn’t include motorbike footpath parking (“Motorbike footpath push,” Mercury, February 12). Is this another example of this government’s talk and no action policy yet again? If there is a policy it should have been implemented yesterday.
Just a puddle
THE Murray-Darling Basin Authority name is apt because if things continue the way they are then the water that is left will probably be just enough to fill a basin.
Beautiful water art
I VISITED the Waterways Exhibition at the Long Gallery, Salamanca as part of the Wooden Boat Festival. I really enjoyed the amazing work of our Tasmanian artists, featuring water in all its forms and beauty. I look forward to the winner, a people’s choice award being announced on Sunday. How lucky we are with so much talent on show reflecting the incredible beauty of our island state.