Battlelines drawn as cable car proponent granted permit to access site

Protests at kunanyi/Mt Wellington may begin within days as hundreds of angry anti-cable car protesters prepare to defend the mountain from drilling works.

BLOCKADES at kunanyi/Mt Wellington may begin within days as hundreds of angry anti-cable car protesters prepare to defend the mountain from drilling works.

Yesterday, Treasurer Peter Gutwein granted an authority for the Mount Wellington Cableway Company to access Wellington Park to conduct geotechnical tests and a flora and fauna study.

Protestors immediately vowed to stop workers from accessing the drilling sites.

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Under the terms of the authority, the Cableway Company must give five days’ notice for any “destructive” works, and 24 hours for any other access within the Park.

MWCC chairman Chris Oldfield would not confirm an exact start date for works.

He first wanted to ensure the availability of authorised contractors.

But it is understood the company is keen to get things moving, meaning works could begin as early as next week.

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Respect the Mountain spokeswoman Louise Sales said protestors would try to stop workers from accessing the drill sites.

“We obviously won’t do anything that will endanger ourselves or the workers on the mountain,” she said.

“But we will be exerting our right and so that could potentially mean getting in their (workers) way, yeah.”

Mr Oldfield called for calm ahead of any drilling works.

“There will always be people that are opposed to the project,” he said.

“But the vast majority support it or at least want to see an informed debate.

“What we are doing is gathering information needed to put a development application in and have that debate.”

The authority allows the developer to drill up to 32 bore holes around the site for soil and rock testing as well as conduct floral and fauna study, including by drone.

The flora and fauna study is a necessary precursor before the company submits a development application to the Hobart City Council.

The authority defines “destructive” activities as the deliberate cutting or crushing of vegetation, and/or the removal, relocation, breaking up or drilling of rocks or boulders.

Mr Gutwein said the State Government was a strong supporter of a cable car as it had the potential to bring significant investment to the state and create new jobs, both during construction and once operational.

“However, the Government has always said any such development must obtain all necessary approvals before it can progress and be able to stand on its own two feet,” he said.

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But Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said the cable car proponent had never stood on its own two feet.

“In 2017, Minister Gutwein brought in the cable car facilitation legislation,” she said.

“It sets in place the mechanism to bypass Hobart City Council as the landowner, and to privatise the pinnacle of the mountain.

“Now a permit authorising drilling of a fragile landscape in the face of strong community opposition.”

Ms Sales said a lunchtime picnic at the site on Sunday of the proposed base station would be the first action it takes with a vigil at the pinnacle planned soon.

Anti-cable protesters have undergone training sessions with the Bob Brown Foundation.

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It’s only fair to allow cable car studies: Pages 38-39