After 100 years, it’s only fair to allow cable car studies

THERE

has been talk about building a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington for more than 100 years. It’s time a proposal is properly considered, and this government believes that process should occur.

In mid-February, I issued the Mount Wellington Cableway Company with an authority to do preliminary site investigations, including flora and fauna surveys and the placement of markers to verify the location of the proposed access road on Hobart City Council-owned

Peter Gutwein

land outside of Wellington Park in the vicinity of McRobies Gully Tip.

I have now granted an authority that will allow the company to access land inside of Wellington Park to undertake flora and fauna surveys and a range of geotechnical investigations, which will assist in preparing a development application for Hobart City Council.

The Hodgman Liberal Government believes kunanyi/Mt Wellington should be respected. It is for this reason we have maintained that any development on the mountain must receive all necessary planning and environmental approvals before it can progress.

Equally though, because a cable car on the mountain has been talked about for about 100 years the proponent should not be prevented from putting forward a planning application to be tested through our robust approval processes.

The Government, like the majority of Tasmanians, is supportive of a cable car on our mountain, and in going through the normal planning process every Tasmanian will have the opportunity to comment on the project.

Whilst the Cable Car (kunanyi/Mount Wellington) Facilitation Act 2017 allows me to grant a cable car proponent access to public land to do site investigations for the purposes of preparing a planning application, it also ensures the planning process remains with Hobart City Council.

The authority requires the company to prepare a safety management plan in relation to members of the public, for each site, with the plan to be approved by the secretary of the Department of State Growth before works begin.

The Wellington Park Management Trust has been consulted throughout this process.

I have sought feedback and comment from the trust, with their comments informing the final version of the authority that I have issued.

The Hobart City Council has also been kept informed of the process.

The Government is committed to supporting sensible development in our natural environment, so more Tasmanians and visitors can experience the natural beauty of our great island state.

Not only would a cable car on the mountain showcase this wonderful natural asset to the world, but it would bring significant investment to the state and create jobs, during construction and once operational, and increased tourist visitation would provide continuous stimulus to our economy.

There will always be a minority who oppose development, however a cable car project will assist in preserving the mountain and taking cars and buses off the Pinnacle Rd.

It will take Hobart to the next level with a world-class experience and build on the Hodgman Liberal Government’s focus on the visitor economy to deliver even more investment and jobs for Tasmanians.

The Hodgman Liberal Government is a strong believer in a cable car, which would provide alternative means of travel up our mountain that is sustainable, and allows locals and tourists to visit and use the mountain year-round while reducing congestion.

I am aware of reports that protesters are readying themselves to commence protests at various locations across Hobart once I have issued the authority to commence preliminary site investigations within Wellington Park.

I fully appreciate that there are varying views in respect of the project in the Tasmanian community and wish to use this opportunity to call for calm and to request those who may wish to protest to ensure that those protests will be peaceful, will not risk the personal safety of individuals and not impact those going about their business in a lawful manner.

The Government believes the merit of the project can only be fully considered once an application containing all of the information is lodged with Hobart City Council.

That way all Tasmanians can judge the development on its merits and make their informed voices heard.