Tasmanian Government says Pinnacle Rd to kunanyi/Mt Wellington will remain open

The Tasmanian Government has vowed to keep Pinnacle Rd open even if the cable car proponent requests it to be closed. WATCH THE REPLAY OF THE CABLE CAR PUBLIC MEETING.

THE State Government has ruled out closing Pinnacle Rd even if a request is made by the cable car proponent to do so.

Speculation that Pinnacle Rd could be closed if the Mount Wellington Cableway Company’s cable car proposal for kunanyi/Mt Wellington was successful has been quashed by State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein.

The Government was forced to issue a statement after concerns were raised at Tuesday night’s public meeting over who would have the final say if a request came from the proponent to close Pinnacle Rd.

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Responding to a question, Hobart City Council planning director Neil Noye said under the Cable Car Facilitation Act the State Government would have the power to close the road.

But Mr Gutwein said Pinnacle Rd would remain open.

Mr Gutwein said the Government was committed to keeping Pinnacle Rd open so it could provide the public and tourists with access to the summit of the mountain.

State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein has given assurances that Pinnacle Rd will remain open. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“The Mount Wellington Cableway Company has never suggested that the operation of its cable car project would require Pinnacle Rd to be closed and to be clear the Government has no intention to close the road and would not entertain any request to do so,” he said.

“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, and I look forward to it being assessed under the normal planning system process.”

MWCC has maintained that Pinnacle Rd would remain open under its proposal.

Members of the strongly anti-cable car crowd at the meeting expressed anger over State Government moves to progress the proposal and vowed to pursue every avenue to stop it.

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