Hobart City Council says it was ignored on cable car permit
Hobart council says it is disappointed the State Government ignored a request it be notified when the Mt Wellington Cableway Company holds surveys on council-owned land. SEE THE DRILL SITE MAP
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THE Hobart City Council says it is disappointed the State Government ignored a request it be notified when the Mount Wellington Cableway Company holds surveys on council-owned land.
An authority signed by State Growth Minister Peter Gutwein last week overruled a council decision to refuse the kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car proponents access to council-owned land around the reserve.
The council’s decision had effectively prevented the cable car company from being able to do the rock and soil testing and floral and faunal surveys necessary to complete a development application for the project.
The State Government’s authority — which Mr Gutwein declined to release but was published by the Mount Wellington Cableway Company and the Hobart City Council — did not require the proponents to tell the council when they were working on the council-owned and managed land outside Wellington Park.
Council parks committee chairman Jeff Briscoe yesterday said it was “disappointing” the Government did not accept the council’s request to be kept in the loop.
A separate permit, which is yet to be signed by Mr Gutwein, would give the proponents access to land within Wellington Park.
That authority would allow the developers to drill up to 32 bore holes around the site for soil and rock testing as well as conduct floral and faunal surveys, including by drone.
The second authority is currently under review by the Wellington Park Trust.
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The authority, seen by the Mercury, shows the Government is considering giving the company permission to:
CONDUCT “destructive” authorised activities — as long as it gives at least five business days’ notice to Mr Gutwein.
“TAKE AND REMOVE flora and fauna” samples as deemed “reasonably necessary”.
HELICOPTER in a drilling rig to conduct bore drilling across 32 sites, including in front of the Organ Pipes.
USE A DRONE to conduct a flora and fauna survey.
SPEND up to 60 days conducting such authorised activities.
The authority defined “destructive” activities as the deliberate cutting or crushing of vegetation, and/or the removal, relocation, breaking up or drilling of rocks or boulders.
The planned drilling will allow the company to take rock and soil samples.
“We are concerned that the entire process has not been as transparent to the public as it could have been,” Ald Briscoe said.
“I call on the State Government to make all permits public and to consider the suggestions made by council representatives on the Mount Wellington Trust about amendments to the permit.”
Mr Gutwein said yesterday that while the Government was a strong supporter of a Mt Wellington cable car “we have always said it must obtain all of the necessary approvals”.
“The MWCC undertaking studies to further inform a development application is the next sensible step for this project,” Mr Gutwein said.
Hobart Cable Car Supporters yesterday dismissed concerns about the actions that would be allowed if the second authority was signed, emphasising on social media that the testing and surveys were necessary for the cable car proponents to write the development application.
Group spokesman Graham Murray said on Facebook the proposed authority was “not the surprise or conspiracy that some opponents would have us believe”.
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“The information is already being used on social media to fuel wild conspiracy theories, when in fact it is nothing more than works that would be required to plan for a road, bridge, house or any other structure,” Mr Murray said.
Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Ted Cutlan said: “The more we learn about this project the worse it gets.”
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