More reason to reject cable car to be considered by tribunal

With an appeal against the Hobart council’s decision to reject the cable car DA set to get underway next year, the Mt Wellington Cableway Company will now need to address additional concerns. LATEST UPDATES >>

New grounds of refusal for the controversial Mt Wellington cable car have been accepted by the tribunal to be considered as part of the appeal.

In July, 21 reasons to reject the cable car development application were provided to council by an independent planning consultant.

The DA was rejected and the Mount Wellington Cableway Company launched an appeal with the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car, which is party to the appeal, submitted additional grounds to be considered, which have now been accepted.

“This is a massive, private commercial project planned for a sensitive, much-loved public reserve,” spokesman for the group Vica Bayley said.

“It’s been found to fail 21 planning and management rules and now others will be considered by the tribunal.

“Additional issues include the impacts of sewage and odour, the destruction of masked owl nesting trees and the visual impact of the development, as viewed from Hobart’s suburbs.”

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

It means the Cableway Company will need to address the additional concerns as part of it’s appeal.

Meanwhile, a premediation conference will be held on Wednesday.

“While we’ll look at any additional information brought forward by the proponent and engage in good faith, we see little prospect for successful mediation or the appeal overturing all 21 grounds of refusal,” Mr Bayley said.

An appeal hearing is set for February 28.