All clear given for Mount Wellington cable car development application

UPDATED: THE proponent behind the cable car for kunanyi/Mt Wellington has been told it is free to lodge a development application that includes its proposed new road link near McRobies Gully Tip.

THE proponent behind the cable car for kunanyi/Mt Wellington has been told it is free to lodge a development application that includes its proposed new road link near McRobies Gully Tip without council’s approval.

Hobart Council general manager Nick Heath said he had received legal advice that the State Government’s Cable Car Facilitation laws passed last year removed the need for the council to provide “owner consent” for a development application outside Wellington Park as well as inside it.

At a heated Hobart City Council meeting in August, aldermen rejected any cable car infrastructure on council land in a 7-4 vote.

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The vote stopped the Mount Wellington Cableway Company from preliminary work to build a 2.5km road near the McRobies Gully tip to a base station on the outskirts of Wellington Park.

But the advice clears the way for MWCC to lodge its application and essentially makes moot the council vote over the road.

Mount Wellington cable car artist's impressions. Picture: MWCC

Mr Heath released his advice as voting closed for Local Government elections on Tuesday morning.

He said the advice related only to the council’s role as planning authority and did not affect any approvals the council might be required to provide as the owner of the land once the planning processes were completed.

Mount Wellington Cableway Company chair Jude Franks said she welcomed the announcement that a review had been conducted.

“This decision confirms MWCC’s understanding of the process,” she said.

“It allows for public access to our proposed development, along with standard service connection infrastructure, to be assessed on merit.

“MWCC can proceed with finalising our development application once our application for a new Ministerial Authority from the State Government is successful.”

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Ted Cutlan said the group was already aware MWCC did not require owner consent for a development application.

“The legal advice comes as no surprise to us,” he said.

“We always knew they would file a development application but the result of the council election will be really telling. The aldermen are a critical factor in this debate.

“Our message to the new mayor and council members is that the public don’t want this and MWCC will continue to meet stiff opposition.”

South Hobart Progress Association president Phillip Hoysted agreed, saying it would fight “tooth and nail all the way to the end”.

“It’s unfortunate this is continuing to drag on given the council has already voted it down,” he said.

“Even if the development application gets up, it’s still a high-risk investment. Tourists don’t come here to ride on a cable car.

“It’s a bit of a tyre-kicking activity, the only way it would work is if it was heavily subsidised by the State Government.”