BLOCKADES TO DRILLING

BLOCKADES to deny workers access to kunanyi/Mount Wellington may begin within days as anti-cable car protesters prepare to shut down drilling works.

The cable car company was late yesterday granted authority to conduct geotechnical and flora and fauna studies.

BLOCKADES at kunanyi/Mt Wellington may begin in days as hundreds of cable car opponents prepare to defend the mountain from drilling works.

Yesterday, Treasurer Peter Gutwein granted an authority for the Mount Wellington Cableway Company to access Wellington Park to conduct geotechnical tests and a flora and fauna study.

Protesters responded by vowing to stop workers from accessing the drilling sites.

Under the terms of the authority, the Cableway Company must give five days’ no- tice for any “destructive” works, and 24 hours for any other access within the park.

Cable car company chairman Chris Oldfield would not confirm a start date for works.

But it is understood the company is keen to get things moving, meaning works could begin as early as next week.

Respect the Mountain spokeswoman Louise Sales said protesters would try to stop workers from accessing the drill sites.

“We obviously won’t do anything that will endanger ourselves or the workers on the mountain,” she said.

“But we will be exerting our right and so that could potentially mean getting in their [workers] way, yeah.”

Mr Oldfield called for calm ahead of any drilling works.

“What we are doing is gathering information needed to put a development application in and have [an informed] debate.”

The authority allows the developer to drill up to 32 bore holes around the site for soil and rock testing as well as conduct a floral and fauna study, including by drone.

The flora and fauna study is a necessary before the company submits a development application to the Hobart City Council.

The authority defines “destructive” activities as the deliberate cutting or crushing of vegetation, and/or the removal, relocation, breaking up or drilling of rocks or boulders.

Mr Gutwein said the State Government was a strong supporter of a cable car as it could bring significant investment to the state and create jobs.

“However, the Government has always said any such development must obtain all necessary approvals before it can progress and be able to stand on its own two feet,” he said.

But Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said the cable car proponent had never stood on its own two feet.

“In 2017, Minister Gutwein brought in the cable car facilitation legislation,” she said.

“It sets in place the mechanism to bypass Hobart City Council as the landowner, and to privatise the pinnacle of the mountain — now a permit authorising drilling of a fragile landscape in the face of strong community opposition.”

Ms Sales said a lunchtime picnic at the site of the proposed base station would be the first action it takes tomorrow with a vigil at the pinnacle planned soon.