Hobart council to vote on holding an elector poll on the Mt Wellington cable car

HOBART aldermen have knocked back a motion calling for a report on whether the council should hold an elector poll for the controversial cable car to kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Hobart residents could head to the October local government elections not just voting for the next Hobart aldermen but on whether or not they support the cable car proposal. Picture: PATRICK GEE

HOBART aldermen have knocked back a motion calling for a report on whether the council should hold an elector poll for the controversial cable car to kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

At Monday night’s meeting Alderman Jeff Briscoe put forward a motion calling for a report into whether an elector poll should be held concurrently with the October council election, asking voters if they backed the Mount Wellington Cableway Company’s proposal.

The report would have canvassed the estimated cost of an elector poll, the legality of the poll outcome and the wording of the question.

After lengthy and heated debate, councillors rejected the motion 6-3.

Issues cited by those against the motion included:

CITIZENS would have the chance to have their say on the proposal when a development application is submitted,

CONCERNS only Hobart residents would be given the chance to vote when it affected other municipalities, and

ONLY a small percentage of voters taking part in the aldermanic elections, meaning the poll would not be fully representative of the community.

Alderman Jeff Briscoe. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Ald Briscoe said there had been a lot of community debate and an elector poll would have answered concerns.

“It’s such an important issue and project and no one knows what the opinion of the community is,” he said

“I believe the council is well within its rights to have an elector poll to seek the opinion of the people of Hobart. The poll would be neutral and have an unbiased question.”

Hobart Lord Mayor Ron Christie said an elector poll would cost about $100,000 and it would be non-binding.

“My main concern as lord mayor is that we as a planning authority must have a clear and open mind,” he said.

Ald Christie said he could not recall any council conversations with MWCC for at least four years.

Ald Briscoe said the cost of a poll would be reduced if it was held at the same time as the local government election.

MWCC chair Jude Franks believed if a poll was to be conducted it should cover all southern Tasmanian councils.

“We know that council elections are non-compulsory for voters and as such potentially not representative of the whole community,” she said.

A State Government spokesman said the public could to have their say through the normal process.