Public meeting to discuss the cable car and building heights is expected to draw massive crowd

Hundreds of people have crowded into Hobart’s City Hall for back-to-back public meetings on the southern capital’s two hottest topics. The live video feed has ended.

HUNDREDS of people have crowded into Hobart’s City Hall for back to back public meetings on the southern capital’s two hottest topics — the cable car and building heights.

Hundreds of people have crammed into Hobart's City Hall for a back to back public meetings on the cable car and building heights. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Hundreds pack Hobart's City Hall for a public meeting on the cable car. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust’s Peter McGlone speaks at the public meeting calling for a building height limit to be set for the city of Hobart. Picture RICHARD JUPE

More than 700 submissions have been made to Hobart City Council ahead of the blockbuster meeting, which kicked off at 6pm.

Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said more than 500 submissions were received for the cable car and more than 200 regarding building heights.

“The goal of the meeting is to give the community a chance to exchange views and have them heard by whoever is in the room,” she said.

“I think most people in Hobart are reasonable and understand there may be different views so

I hope it will be respectful.”

Cr Reynolds said the two meetings would run back-to-back from 6pm.

Each speaker will be allowed three minutes and a summary of all submissions will be provided to attendees.

It will cost the council up to $8000 to host the meetings.

The meetings were called after two separate petitions were received by the council with more than 1000 signatures each.

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Ted Cutlan said this was a chance for people to make it very clear that they don’t want a cable car.

Protesters are ready to act after ministerial authority was granted to Mount Wellington Cableway Company. From left, Louise Sales, Philip Stigant, Ted Cutlan and Tom Crawford. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“We have heard time and again that we are desperate to see a DA — we are not, we’re desperate to see this project go away,” he said.

“I hope from this meeting the Government realises this is a deeply unpopular project that the vast majority of Hobart residents and others don’t want,” he said.

Mr Cutlan said if tourists wanted a cable car they could go to Cape Town.

“I don’t think it’s right when we have for tourists tell us what we should do with our mountain just to make them happy.

An artist’s impression of the proposed development of a cable car on Mt Wellington / kunanyi by MWCC.

An artist’s impression of the proposed development of a cable car on Mt Wellington / kunanyi by MWCC.

Hobart Not Highrise president Brian Corr said the public meeting was another opportunity for residents to stand up for “our beautiful, low-rise heritage city”.

“We’ve had a petition with over 7600 signatures and two packed public meetings, all supporting a low-rise city with more protections on heritage buildings, view-lines, and streetscapes,” he said.

Under the Local Government Act, when a petition is submitted to the council with more than 1000 signatures from valid electors from within the council area, calling for a public meeting, it must be held within 30 days of the council making its decision.

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