Cableway group still in the fight

SUPPORT for a cable car on kunanyi/Mount Wellington is growing, cableway company chair Chris Oldfield says, as opponents of the project seek to expand the grounds for its refusal.

The company’s development application for the project was voted down by Hobart City Council in July, after an independent report outlined 21 reasons why it should be rejected.

The company behind the project has lodged an appeal with the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal, with nine groups opposed to the proposal joined as party to the appeal.

Last week, the Residents Opposed to the Cable Car group submitted four additional grounds for refusal, claiming concerns such as sewage and odour, visual impacts and potential harm to the masked owl population.

The tribunal will consider whether the extra concerns will form part of the appeal.

Mr Oldfield said the company was yet to examine the extra grounds submitted.

“We’ve always believed since the council decision, the introduction of additional decisions or information would go a long way to resolving the council’s concerns,” Mr Oldfield said.

“We’ve always said we’re happy to work with other groups.”

Mr Oldfield said Tasmanians had had enough of commentary that caused division and he believed support for the project was growing.

“My anecdotal evidence in the community is support is getting stronger by the day,” he said.

“People understand this is a sustainable solution for the mountain, it’s a mountain people love and we have to be able to do better.”

The tribunal hearing for the appeal is set for February 28.