Doubts over kunanyi park plan

Returning kunanyi to Aboriginal ownership would be a better option than a national park, the Greens say.

A view of Mt Wellington/kunanyi from The Islington Hotel in Hobart. Picture: Linda Smith

The Greens have embraced calls for a new look at how to best protect Mt Wellington, although an anti-cable car group says creating a new national park would offer less protection than the present arrangements.

Outgoing Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania CEO Luke Martin has suggested the idea as a community asset and visitor attraction.

But the state government’s response has been tepid. Premier Jeremy Rockliff is still keen to pursue the long-mooted plans to a cable car to the summit.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said a well thought out response to the issues raised in the debate over the cable car could see enhanced protection for the mountain’s natural and cultural values.

“Beloved by Hobartians, kunanyi is also a place of timeless cultural significance to Tasmanian Aboriginal people. It’s a sacred place,” she said.

“That’s why opposition to the cable car among Aboriginal Tasmanians is so strong.

“Kunanyi should be protected, in safe hands and never threatened by a cable car or other bad development again.

“Jeremy Rockliff needs to reset his priorities: instead of pushing divisive, disrespectful and unneeded projects — that desecrate kunanyi or displace the planned Truth and Reconciliation Park with a billion dollar stadium – he needs to show leadership on true conciliation and Treaty with First Nations Tasmanians.

“A meaningful first step would be to stop threatening the mountain on behalf of developers, and work with all Tasmanians — Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal — to protect its wild beauty and extraordinary cultural story.”

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Vica Bayley said the current arrangements had served the mountain well and any change would need to be carefully considered and consulted about.

“Under normal circumstances a tenure upgrade to national park status is welcome and will lead to better outcomes for a range of values, but the reality is kunanyi has better protection and probity with the reserve status that it currently has.

“The Liberal Government has displayed a shameless appetite for the weakening of national park management plans to provide for private commercial tourism developments, despite the cost to the natural and cultural values and the public’s ability to access and enjoy them.

“With Premier Jeremy Rockliff championing a cable car development despite comprehensive rejection by the independent appeal tribunal, we would fear a hostile tenure take over would simply be a crude way to bypass current management and planning protections and approve a cable car development on the summit.

“There is no reason the State Government cannot fund improvements inside and outside of the Wellington Park and make a positive difference to visitor access and amenity, whether it be a reserve as it is now under the management of the Wellington Park Trust, or a returned Aboriginal ownership model.”

Originally published as Doubts over kunanyi park plan