All-weather Mt Wellington bus expected to be ready this year

AN all-weather shuttle bus service up kunanyi/Mt Wellington will be operational by the end of this year.

An all-weather bus will soon be operating on Mt Wellington. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

THE company that operates double-decker tourist buses around Hobart will have an all-weather shuttle bus service running to the top of kunanyi/Mt Wellington by the end of this year.

J.P. Gregory Pty Ltd, which runs the Red Decker Company, has been awarded the tender to supply a year-round bus service from Hobart to the summit by the Hobart City Council.

However, the route won’t be run with the open-top buses the company is known for.

Red Decker owner Jonathon Gregory said a mainland company would custom-build a $300,000 bus similar to those used at Thredbo in NSW, Mt Buller in Victoria and Queenstown in New Zealand.

Mr Gregory said the bus would use snow tyres in winter, with chains on board if required.

It would carry 30 people, have low floor access for mountain bikes, wheelchairs and prams and would be fitted with commentary for tourists.

He said the service would be about getting people to the summit safely on snowy and icy roads while also stopping at Fern Tree, the Springs and the Chalet on the way.

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The bus is expected to take six months to build, with the service to be operational by the end of the year once a licence is signed with the Wellington Park Management Trust.

“It will reduce traffic on the mountain and get people onto buses,” Mr Gregory said.

Ticket prices would be discussed later, he said.

The council’s goal with the service is to address increased traffic on the mountain and to allow people to reach the summit when snow shuts Pinnacle Rd.

Snow and ice last year forced 21 days of closures of Pinnacle Rd as part of a council policy of pre-emptive road closures if snow was expected to fall overnight.

Parks and recreation committee chair, Alderman Anna Reynolds, said the council was confident the bus would be able to travel during most Pinnacle Rd closures.

“They’re designed to deal with icy roads and snow,” she said. “But it’s not like a big snow bus designed to deal with five feet of snow, we will still need to use our snow ploughs.”

Ald Reynolds said while the service would be mainly used by tourists, she hoped it would appeal to locals too, suggesting the State Government could help subsidise the bus so a discount could be provided to Hobart residents.