Cable car opponents accused of being “desperate”

Mount Wellington Cableway Company chair Chris Oldfield said opponents to the proposal are “desperate”, as the tribunal decides whether extra conditions will be included in the appeal.

Mount Wellington Cableway company chair Chris Oldfield said support for a cable car on kunanyi/Mount Wellington is growing as opponents seek to expand the grounds for refusal for the proposal.

The company’s development application for the project was voted down in July, after an independent report outlined 21 reasons why it should be rejected.

Mount Wellington Cableway Company artists impressions of what the proposed cable care on Mount Wellington will look like. Picture: supplied

The company behind the project has lodged an appeal with the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal, with nine groups opposed to the proposal joined as party to the appeal.

Last week the Residents Opposed to the Cable Car group submitted four additional grounds for refusal, claiming concerns including sewage and odour, visual impacts and masked owls should be considered.

The tribunal will consider whether the extra concerns will form part of the appeal.

Mr Oldfield said the company was yet to examine the extra grounds submitted.

“We’ve always believed since the council decision, the introduction of additional decisions or information would go a long way to resolving the council’s concerns.” Mr Oldfield said.

“We’ve always said we’re happy to work with other groups.

“Mr Bayley and his group has chosen not to raise these concerns with our group.”

Chris Oldfield chair of the Mount Wellington Cableway Company. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Oldfield said Tasmanians had had enough of commentary that caused division.

“Vica Bayley is becoming increasingly desperate to find reasons to oppose this project,” Mr Oldfield said.

“We are looking forward to our day at the tribunal when Mr Bayley will be required to justify some of the inflammatory comments he’s made.”

Mr Oldfield said support for the project was growing.

“My anecdotal evidence in the community is support is getting stronger by the day,” Mr Oldfield said.

“People understand this is a sustainable solution for the mountain, it’s a mountain people love and we have to be able to do better.

“There will still be hundreds and thousands of people going up the mountain regardless of this decision and we have to think of a smarter way to do this and get cars off the road.”

The Mount Wellington Cableway Company will have the opportunity to respond to the additional claims on Friday.

The tribunal hearing for the appeal is set for February 28.