No sign of drilling on kunanyi/Mt Wellington but a development application is imminent, says Mt Wellington Cableway Company

The proponent of the kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car says it will have more to say about drilling and a development application very soon as it is revealed a board member has resigned.

THE company behind a proposal for a kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car says it will release further detail on the project in the coming days.

A series of protests and vigils have been held on and around the mountain in recent months in anticipation of imminent drilling for geotechnical tests and flora and fauna studies in preparation for a development application.

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In response to questions from the Mercury regarding when drilling would happen and when a development application would be lodged with the Hobart City Council, a Mt Wellington Cableway Company spokesman said: “We expect to be able to proved a full update of where the company is at with the cable car within the next few days.”

The statement came as the MWCC rejected claims by the cable car’s opponents that the resignation of a board director signalled there were problems with the project.

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car said the resignation of Ian Wheeler from the MWCC board was significant.

“This resignation comes at a critical point in the assessment process, with a development

application imminent. The resignation raises concerns about the financial viability of

MWCC, the capacity of the company to carry out necessary drilling works prior to lodging a

DA, and whether a replacement director has been appointed,” ROCC said in a statement.

However a spokesman for the MWCC said the claims about Mr Wheeler’s resignation were “totally inaccurate”.

“The suggestion that this somehow reflects on the financial viability of MWCC is completely erroneous,” the spokesman said.

“MWCC is financially sound. Ian Wheeler resigned due to the imminent lodgement of a DA for the cable car to avoid any suggestion of a conflict of interest as his business also provides services for the HCC. This is a normal, sound and ethical position to take.”