Dismay at Springs plans delay
THE state’s peak tourism body has voiced disappointment at Hobart architect Robert Morris-Nunn’s plans to defer his hotel, restaurant and visitor centre development on kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
Prof Morris-Nunn’s plans for the Springs, on Pinnacle Rd, included a 60-room hotel, visitor centre, restaurant and whisky distillery using Springs water.
But the renowned designer and university of Tasmania school of architecture adjunct professor decided last year to put things on hold while the State Government progressed the controversial mountain cable cable car proposal.
The Hobart City Council also is holding back funding for its own visitor centre plans.
“No one’s going to invest when there’s uncertainty,” Prof Morris-Nunn said.
“The [ Hobart City] Council is now considering a visitor centre, which is something we had included in our proposal. The approval we formerly had has lapsed, so it will need to be resubmitted.”
The delay has prompted groans of disappointment from the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania, with chief executive Luke Martin saying the mountain is “crying out for a range of new visitor facilities,” said. “It would be a crying shame to see the site land banked by any potential developer.
“There is absolutely no reason why we can’t have a great visitor development on the Springs and a cable car to the summit cannot both occur and be perfectly complimentary.”