Cable car’s eco tick bid

HOBART’S cable car proponent will make a voluntary referral for federal environmental assessment once its development application has council planning approval.

Mount Wellington Cableway Company chair Chris Oldfield confirmed he had spoken to the federal environment department about how the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act could apply to the proposal.

He said they always intended to make a voluntary referral but were following a logical process.

“[The department] understand that,” Mr Oldfield said. “We need to work through these things logically.

“The development application is fundamental, when that’s complete we will then be in a position to look at the next stage.”

Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley confirmed her department had written to the company to explain how the EPBC Act “could apply to the proposal to construct and operate a cableway at Mt Wellington”.

“Under the EPBC Act, a person must refer for approval any proposal that is likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance,” she said.

A department spokesman said once referred under the Act it was an offence to commence the action until approval was given by the Minister or a delegate.

Federal assessment creates another hurdle for the company, which has a development application before the Hobart City Council, and requires Wellington Park Management Trust approval for commercial operations.

Mr Oldfield said the company would require many permits to complete the build, if approved, including a liquor licence and food handling certificate.

“The public should have confidence in this process,” he said.

Mr Oldfield said Hobart City Council was waiting for more information from them about certain aspects of their development application.

He said they had expert consultants working through the request to make sure they gave full answers to the questions. He said the request would be completed in the near future.