Road closures are ‘sheer lunacy’ as mountain access remains limited amid continuing wait for all-weather bus

Vehicular access to the top of kunanyi/Mt Wellington has been blocked for longer than it has been open during the past fortnight with the all-weather bus service still not running.

Snow on the top of kunanyi/Mt Wellington last month. Picture: KATY MORGAN

THE road to Hobart’s picturesque snow-capped mountain has been closed for more than seven of the past 11 days as the wait for an all-weather bus service continues.

An analysis of the Hobart City Council Pinnacle Rd notifications revealed the route to the summit had been closed for 184 of the past 264 hours since May 26, including for five entire days.

Driving to the top of kunanyi/Mt Wellington proved impossible for four consecutive days last week with the road shut from 6.10pm on May 26 to noon on May 31.

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The kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus Company at the launch of their new mountain service. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

The long-awaited purpose-built bus service that can carry passengers through the council roadblock has been tested and is waiting on a permit to operate from the Wellington Park Management Trust.

It is hoped the all-weather service will be running by the end of next week.

Snow on kunanyi/Mt Wellington earlier this year. Picture: PATRICK GEE

The Wellington Park Management Trust 2017-18 annual report said the company would be issued with a permit before the 2019 winter to operate a service on Pinnacle Rd when it was closed due to ice and snow.

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The report said council had a proactive strategy for closing the road when conditions were unsafe. It said closures were triggered by overnight temperature forecasts provided by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Tourism Industry Council Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin slammed the constant road closures.

“It’s just sheer lunacy that Hobart is one of the few cities in the world with a snow-capped mountain within eyeshot and we have days on end when visitors and locals can’t experience it in its finest,” he said.

“I hope the all-weather shuttle bus solution enables more people to get up there in the short-term but this again highlights the long-term dilemma with visitor access to the mountain.

“It’s just silly we have this problem year in, year out.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds was interstate on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.

Last week she said safety was the number one priority when closing the road.

“Everybody understands that transport to the mountain is an important strategic issue for Hobart, and Tasmania generally, as it is the most highly visited natural site in the state,” Councillor Reynolds said.

“This new service will provide safe access to people above our road closure.”

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