Tasmanian Government land purchase to move Mt Wellington cable car plan forward

Legislation allowing the Tasmanian Government to compulsorily acquire land from the Hobart City Council for a cable car project on Hobart’s Mount Wellington has been passed in the Lower House of the Tasmanian Parliament.

The bill for the controversial project, stalled in the approval processes by the Council, now moves to the Legislative Council for consideration.

Tasmanian Minister for State Growth Matthew Groom said the bill's passage was an important milestone, stating “it represents the most significant step forward in allowing the public to have their say on such a project in more than 100 years.”

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said normal approval processes would still apply, advising “if we're going to continue the growth, the sustainable growth in our tourism industry we need to continually add new attractions and new points of interest that separate Tasmania from the pack."

The Labor opposition, which backed the vote, also called for the public road on Mt Wellington to remain open to the public and properly maintained, which the Government agreed to.

Opponents of the plan have called it a “land grab for q private developer at public expense”, citing Minister Groom's relationship with Adrian Bold, the man behind the latest push for a cable car development.

Bold’s Mt Wellington Cable Car Company posted a statement on its Facebook page welcoming the bill's passage.

It advised “we are very glad to be able to strengthen investor confidence in the project with this strong bi-partisan support.

"We look forward to further support for the bill in the Legislative Council."

First proposed in the early years of the last century, the current plan for a cable-car to the top of Mt Wellington is for aerial tram cabins with open-air rear balconies, and possibly glass-bottomed floors.

The plan also includes a visitor centre that would lie just south-east of the existing observation centre at the mountain's summit.

Image: An artist's impression of the proposed cable car up Mount Wellington. 

6th November 2015 - MOUNT WELLINGTON CABLE CAR PLAN MOVES FORWARD 

11th April 2015 - TASMANIA DOMINATES QANTAS AUSTRALIAN TOURISM AWARDS

14th November 2014 - PLANS MOVE FORWARD FOR MOUNT WELLINGTON CABLE CAR

23rd August 2014 - TASMANIA LOOKS TO BOOST TOURISM IN ITS NATURAL AREAS

18th March 2013 - PROPOSED MOUNT WELLINGTON CABLE CAR ENCOUNTERS OPPOSITION FROM INDIGENOUS GROUPS

12th March 2010 - CABLE CAR TO ASCENT HOBART’S MOUNT WELLINGTON? 

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