Fear of cable car fast-track
OPPONENTS of a cable car project for kunanyi/Mount Wellington fear a new legislative approach to major projects in Tasmania could allow projects like the cable car to be fast-tracked without proper engagement with the community.
Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Vica Bayley said the draft legislation would be a shortcut for controversial projects that need an independent and robust process that engages the public.
Mr Bayley said the draft legislation – outlined by Premier Peter Gutwein and Planning Minister Roger Jaensch earlier this week – lacked independence and rigour.
“Tasmanians should be under no illusion – this legislation is written to ram through complex, controversial projects like the cable car,
Westbury Prison, high-rise hotels and Cambria Green, and minimise the opportunity for public involvement,’’ Mr Bayley said.
“This is a retrograde step. It continues a weakening of Tasmania’s planning system and it continues the worrying trend of secrecy, lack of transparency and shutting out of community involvement.”
The group’s concerns are shared by the Greens, who have called on the Government to rule out using the new legislation for this project.
“The cable car is a divisive project and the Liberals must rule out using their proposed fast-track legislation for its benefit,’’ party leader Cassy O’Connor said.
Mr Jaensch was asked this week whether the cable car proposal could be one of the projects assessed under the new legislation.
“Technically, it could be assessed but so far the proponents and we as government had said that we want that project to be assessed through the normal existing planning process and the Hobart City Council as the local planning authority has progressed down that road,’’ he said.
Mr Jaensch and Mr Gutwein said this week the new assessment process would be “independent, comprehensive and rigorous”. “Proposals declared to be major projects will be assessed by an independent expert panel specially convened by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.”
The Government said the draft Bill had been through two periods of public consultation in 2017 and 2018.
The draft legislation has been released for public comment and closes on April 9, with public meetings about the legislation to be held in early April.