Cable car company called out on ‘consultation’ claims

SOUTH Hobart and Fern Tree community groups say they have not been consulted about the cable car project, contrary to claims from the cable car company.

SOUTH Hobart and Fern Tree community groups say they have not been consulted about the cable car project, contrary to claims from the cable car company.

South Hobart Progress Association and Fern Tree Community Association are both listed on the Mount Wellington Cableway Company website as having been engaged with over the project but both have denied any consultation has taken place.

But a spokesman for the cable car company said there were several discussions by phone and email with representatives of the South Hobart Progress Association early in the development stage in 2013 with plans for follow-up meetings.

“A planned presentation was postponed and follow-up requests to reschedule that presentation for September 2013 were not answered,” the spokesman said.

“A presentation was made to the Fern Tree Community Association in May 2013 and that consultation played a large part in how the concept proposal was developed.”

South Hobart Progress Association secretary David Halse-Rogers said no consultation had happened.

Ted Cutlan has called on the Mount Wellington Cableway Company to hold public consultations over its project. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Mr Halse-Rogers said the association had written twice to the cable car company requesting their name be removed because it was misleading to the public.

“This association has never had any discussions with Mr Adrian Bold or any other office bearer of the Mount Wellington Cableway Company at any stage,” the letter to the cable car company states.

Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White has intervened, writing a letter to cableway company chairwoman Jude Franks calling on her to remove the South Hobart Progress Association from the list.

“I would be pleased if you can follow up on their request that any mention of SHPA is removed from the website,” she wrote.

The cable car company spokesman said it would remove the names of the two organisations as requested.

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Ted Cutlan said the cable car company could not claim to have the support of the public while it continued to ignore the South Hobart and Fern Tree communities.

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