‘Read the room’: Tribunal’s decision on Tasmania’s most controversial project

Plans for a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington will not go ahead after a tribunal dismissed an appeal as staunch opponents warn they’ll be vocal if the company appeals again.

Plans for a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington will not go ahead, after a tribunal dismissed an appeal on a council decision refusing a development application for the controversial project.

The Hobart City Council voted down the proposal, by the Mount Wellington Cableway Company, in July last year.

The proponent hoped the decision could be overturned by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, but today it ruled in favour of opponents.

Mt Wellington / kunanyi on a cold Hobart morning. Picture: Richard Jupe

The idea of a cable car on the mountain is one which has divided Hobart, with many arguing it would allow for better access to the summit and others fearing it would have a negative visual impact on the mountain.

MWCC chair Chris Oldfield said the company was disappointed by the decision and was taking time to consider its position.

“We need to get advice from our legal and planning advisers on the technical detail of the tribunal’s determination,” Mr Oldfield said.

Mount Wellington Cableway Co. Chair Chris Oldfield. Picture: Chris Kidd.

“The Tribunal’s determination and its implications for the future of the project also need to be considered by our board and key shareholders.

“Consequently, we will not be commenting further at this stage.”

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car president Vica Bayley welcomed the decision.

“We’re obviously extremely relieved and thankful for the thousands of people who donated to the legal defence, stood up to say no and took action to protect kunanyi from the cable car,” Mr Bayley said.

Vica Bayley spokesman for Residents Opposed to the Cable Car at Waterworks Reserve in South Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“This is a clear rejection, kunanyi is no place for a cable car.

“We hope this sends a clear message to their shareholders and all these backers that have at the end of the day put money in.”

Mr Bayley said the proponent needed to walk away from the project.

“Let the community move on,” he said.

“This has occupied so much community time, so much community energy and so much community money.

“It’s time they read the room and walked away.”

He said if the developers did go back to the drawing board and submitted a new application to the council, opponents would be ready.

“We’ll fight it, that’s a commitment I can make based on the people we represent,” Mr Bayley said.

The tribunal was not swayed by evidence presented by the proponent’s witnesses around the impacts of noise.

In its determination report, the tribunal said it did not accept there would be improved acoustic amenity for the Organ Pipes walking track, Pinnacle Road and the summit observation point.

“Noise associated with the cableway and associated infrastructure in the natural and recreation zones will result in intrusion on the quiet enjoyment of the park, particularly in those locations around the park that are not exposed to traffic noise, that could have an adverse effect,” the tribunal said.

“The Appellant’s evidence addresses the Organ Pipes track but not other tracks.”

Artists impression of the proposed development of a cable car on Mt Wellington / kunanyi by MWCC.

During the appeal, concerns were raised around the impact of swift parrot habitat, which a biodiversity expert said would be unavoidable as a result of the removal of trees.

To offset this, it was suggested trees be planted in swift parrot breeding areas at a 5:1 ratio.

But land had not been secured, or even identified for the new trees and it was noted the trees would take 25 years before they could provide a suitable habitat.

“In the absence of an appropriate site with security to ensure long-term survival of planted trees it cannot be said that the loss of swift parrot foraging habitat would be redressed,” the tribunal said.

“Therefore the long term impact on vegetation values, insofar that they form habitat for threatened species will not be remedied.”

A witness for the proponent also argued that the pinnacle centre would not intrusive or

obtrusive on the landscape, because its impact would be mitigated through form, siting and external detailing.

The tribunal said the pinnacle centre would be in a prominent location and visible from Pinnacle Road

“The evidence does not establish that it will avoid or sufficiently remedy or mitigate the loss of visual values,” the tribunal said.

The tribunal also said the proponent had no adequately demonstrated the proposal would result in significant long term social community benefit

Crunch time as decision arrives on cable car

After a lengthy appeals process, the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal will hand down its decision on the proposed Mount Wellington cable car on Thursday.

The Hobart City Council rejected the proposal in July last year after a planning consultant recommended 21 reasons why it should be refused.

The Mount Wellington Cableway Company (MWCC) launched an appeal, which began in August and was heard over the course of three weeks.

Before the appeal was launched, MWCC submitted an alternative design to what was refused by the council and if approved, the alternative is what will be built.

Artists impression of the proposed development of a cable car on Mt Wellington / kunanyi by MWCC from 2018.

It included removing both the proposed northern wing and a viewing space as well as a reducing the summit building footprint by about 40 per cent.

The amendment also reduced operational hours to daylight only and halved the passenger load capacity of the aerial tramway cabins.

The cableway would comprise of three towers, two located at the base station and one at the summit.

There would be fifteen minute intervals between each cable car and each cabin will have a maximum capacity of 40 passengers.

The verdict will be handed down at 10am.