Zipline project cops Government blast

THE impacts of Council’s controversial Mt Coot-tha zipline project have been underestimated and it should “go back to the drawing board’’, the State Government says.

THE environmental and visual impacts of Council’s controversial Mt Coot-tha zipline project have been underestimated and it should “go back to the drawing board’’, a letter from the State Government suggests.

The State Assessment and Referral Agency letter, dated October 17, was published on the Council development application online portal on Monday.

State Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, who has been fighting the plan for a megazip and treetop zip tourist experience, said the concerns of residents had been vindicated in what he called a “savage take-down by experts in the State Government’’.

Greens MP Michael Berkman. Picture: Annette Dew

“The State Government agency (SARA) points out that the LNP Council’s documents are riddled with errors,’’ Mr Berkman said.

“These serious issues cannot be solved by tweaking the proposal. It’s a dud.

“The LNP Council has drastically underestimated the impacts of the zipline in almost every imaginable way.

“They’ve lowballed everything — from tree clearing to light pollution, traffic, public transport and impacts on the historic Mt Coot-tha viewing platform.

“The Greens oppose this project and I’ve been supporting locals pointing out these obvious errors for a year.’’

Council Environment, Parks and Sustainability Chairman Cr David McLachlan said the zipline was still under assessment, but would meet strict environmental conditions.

Councillor David McLachlan.

“All points raised by the State Government will be addressed by the applicant, as is the process with all development applications,” Cr McLachlan said.

“Minimising environmental impacts is the top priority for this project and the chosen design will not result in the widespread clearing of trees.

“Extensive independent expert studies and vegetation surveys have been undertaken to identify and map all trees impacted by the project and this information is publicly available in the development application.

“Views from the lookout viewing areas will not be impeded by the launching pad of the Mt Coot-tha zipline.’’

Greens Councillor Jonathan Sri last night moved an urgency motion in Council chambers about the explosive letter from SARA.

Cr Sri said the council needed to explain how ratepayers’ money and negotiations with the contractor in charge of the zipline would be affected by the letter.

“There’s a lot of public concern out there. I think it’s really important that BCC stand up and articulate what this (the letter) means,’’ he said.

“This is a council project at the end of the day. This letter raises a lot of serious questions that need to be answered immediately.

“As far as I can see this is the end of the zipline.

“I basically saw this as a win when I saw this letter, because it signals that the zipline can’t go ahead.

“The project as it stands is unviable and seems to be illegal. Not only does it fail to satisfy the accepted outcomes but also the performance outcomes.”

Cr Sri said the development application for the project, which has been referred by Council to itself for assessment, needed to be carefully scrutinised by a full meeting of all councillors rather than delegated to “unelected development assessors”.

“It seems like most LNP councillors don’t even understand how significant the negative environmental impacts of this project would be, but they need to take responsibility as elected decision-makers,” he said.

Read SARA’s letter to Council here

SARA’s letter raised numerous concerns, including that Council’s DA had listed only the number trees which needed to be cleared which were greater than 150mm in diameter.

It said all tree removal needed to be stated, including clearing needed for firebreaks and maintenance.

“As Mt Coot-tha forest is listed for its views to and from the place, the Department of

Environment and Science will not endorse vegetation clearing that results in visible scars on

the landscape,’’ the letter read.

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“Lighting has the potential to affect the aesthetic significance of Mount Coot-tha as a prominent scenic landmark and therefore lighting must be considered as part of the overall assessment of impacts.

Cr Jonathan Sri. Picture: Brian Bennion

The historic views from the Lookout of a green landscape with an expansive city form in the distance must be retained and should not be compromised through partial clearing and the introduction of new large built form directly in the view line. The Department of Environment and Science is not supportive of the apparent disruption to the views from the Mount Coot-tha Lookout and Kiosk and recommends the applicant review lowering the lookout platform to reduce the overall height of the structure.

“The provision of a new viewing platform as part of the takeoff platform is not considered an offset for impacts to the historic vantage point from the Mt Coot-tha Lookout and Kiosk.

“It is recommended that you address these concerns promptly, noting that the department considers your development application does not currently satisfy certain applicable outcomes and performance outcomes identified in the State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP).’’