Final chance to have your say on Mt Wellington cable car proposal

It’s the final chance to have a say on the divisive kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car development, with over 7000 people already declaring their support or opposition for the development. LATEST >>

• Cable Car company's development application accepted by HCC
• Group says support for cable car project has ‘never been higher’

TODAY is the last chance to have a say on the divisive kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car development, with a record number of people having already done so.

As of 11am Monday, there were 7340 public representations received by the Hobart City Council both in support of and in opposition to the development application put forward by the Mt Wellington Cableway Company – the most ever lodged for any application with the HCC.

Public submissions close today – at 5.15pm for mailed submissions and 11.59pm for online entries.

Only feedback provided as a formal representation during the past four-week period can be considered by the council as part of the assessment process.

Artist impression of the view from the pinnacle centre atop kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Picture: SUPPLIED

The DA will be considered by the council acting as the planning authority at a special full council meeting on July 27.

The application will also need to be formally considered by other relevant authorities outside of the council.

MWCC chair Chris Oldfield said in the main, respect had been shown on both sides of the debate over the past four weeks.

He said he was not surprised by the record number of representations.

“It’s not a numbers game – it’s about satisfying public expectations and planning legislation,” he said.

“The way we get people up the mountain and the facilities when they get there are not good enough by Tasmanian standards.

“We can do better and we can have a facility that’s in harmony with the mountain – a cableway that runs on renewable energy – it will be something Tasmanians can be very proud of when it’s finished.”

Mr Oldfield said any elected members who may have a “preconceived decision” would need to decide for themselves whether or not they should declare a conflict of interest before voting.

New artists impressions of the proposed cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Image: MWCC.

“We know there are some members there who were elected on very strong anti-cable car platforms and that’s entirely their right,” he said.

Infrastructure Minister Michael Ferguson said members of the public should not be “silenced and drowned out by the naysayers.”

“I think the debate has been very slanted to a small group of people who are totally opposed to a cable car and want to hold back the whole of the state from being able to enjoy Mt Wellington,” he said.

“And I think while public submissions are still open, people should feel free to jump on and make their comment whether it’s positive or negative.”

Opponents question cable car noise report

A GROUP opposed to the Mt Wellington cable car project has questioned claims the noise it will generate will have minimal impact on those living near the base station.

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car has written to the Environmental Protection Authority to clarify why the proponents say it has accepted noise impacts from the base station at South Hobart.

The development application indicates that the loudest noise – of the cable car leaving the base station – would be almost 60 decibels at a distance of 50 metres, which is about the volume of a normal conversation.

The nearest houses are 230 metres away.

An artist’s impression of the proposed cable car station on kunanyi/Mt Wellington. Image: MWCC

But ROCC spokesman Vica Bayley said the noise assessment did not take into account the effect of all the infrastructure associated with the proposal or of increased traffic movements.

“When it comes to assessing noise, the noise consultant made comment that the cable car proponent withheld important information, including traffic movements at the base station,” Mr Bayley said.

“Given this, we wonder about the value of the EPA advice, what evidence it relied upon and what comfort it affords residents neighbouring the base station and its access road.”

The group is concerned that residents are not protected from the noise of the proposal because it has not been properly assessed.

“The DA noise report is crystal clear that its findings are heavily constrained by the lack of transparency of the proponent,” Mr Bayley said.

“On what basis has the EPA formed its advice?”

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Vica Bayley has raised concerns over noise reports for the cable car proposal. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Mt Wellington Cableway Company chair Chris Oldfield said he was confident the council would be able to properly assess the development application on its merits.

“If Mr Bayley has concerns with any aspects of our DA, he has the opportunity to raise this with the Hobart City Council during the public consolation phase of the DA process,” he said.

“This is how the system is designed to operate. We are not in the business of providing a running commentary on the claims made by Mr Bailey or of his apparent criticism of the EPA.”

Mt Wellington Cableway Company chair Chris Oldfield. Picture: Richard Jupe

Mr Oldfield rejected the suggestion that the noise from the project would unduly affect residents or that insufficient information had been provided.

“In relation to noise, we have demonstrated that noise emissions will be well below required thresholds,” he said.

“Perhaps Mr Bayley is not aware that subsequently the EPA has provided written advice to our company that they have received details regarding operational hours and likely daily visitor numbers and have no further questions or comments regarding the proposal.”

Public submissions on the proposal to the Hobart City Council close on Tuesday.

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