New setback for Mt Wellington cable car plan

THE Mount Wellington Cableway Company is unsure when it will be able to submit a development application for its project after being dealt another setback.

THE Mount Wellington Cableway Company is unsure when it will be able to submit a development application for its project after being dealt another setback, this time at the hands of the State Government.

State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein has advised the MWCC it would need to reapply for approval to do investigative drilling and surveying works at the site if the company decided to build a base terminal for its proposed cable car at the end of Old Farm Rd in South Hobart.

This would be a shorter route and would dodge the need for land use approval by the owners of Cascade Brewery.

A fortnight ago, Mr Gutwein said it appeared the shorter route might be different to the one approved for the investigative works, which are part of MWCC’s development application process to Hobart City Council.

GALLERY: BIG ANTI-CABLE CAR RALLY

MORE: CALL FOR PEOPLE POLL ON CABLE CAR

MORE: TWIST IN CABLE CAR WORKS
Last week MWCC chair Jude Franks said once the company received permission to conduct investigative works and test the height of the proposed pinnacle centre with scaffolding, it could release designs for public feedback to before any changes to the DA before its submission. She also said the company was on track to submit a development application to council in July. But last night she couldn’t say whether this was still accurate.

“If we confirm a shorter route, we won’t know when we can submit a DA until the authority [for investigative works] is replaced,” Ms Franks said.

“MWCC have been keen to explore a shorter route to comply with planning constraints in the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme outside of Wellington Park.

“With receipt of the minister’s advice we can now make a final determination of the route and we look forward to detailing our decision soon.”

Mr Gutwein said he advised the MWCC of his decision on Wednesday

“I will now await the MWCC’s decision on whether it will continue with the route comprising a terminal in the vicinity of Cascade, or whether it wishes to proceed on the basis of a shortened route.

“The Government is supportive of a cable car for kunanyi/Mount Wellington.”

Up to 5000 people attended a massive anti-cable car rally at Cascade Gardens in South Hobart this month.

Guest speakers, Tasmanian author Richard Flanagan and former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown, vowed to fight against the project and called on the State Government to leave the mountain alone.