Tasmanians to have a say on Mt Wellington cable car project

Following Hobart City Council’s acceptance that the Mount Wellington Cableway Company (MWCC) had met all requests for additional information to allow formal assessment to proceed, Tasmanians will now get a say on the long-awaited cable car project.

MWCC Chair Chris Oldfield said this was a monumental step forward as no previous cable car proposal for kunanyi/Mt Wellington had ever made it to formal assessment stage.

Oldfield advised the company had lodged the final two pieces of information required by council and noted “Council’s acceptance of that information means full details of the project and the council planning officers’ report can now be put out for public consultation ahead of formal assessment by the HCC planning committee.”

Oldfield said the two major new pieces of information included an Aboriginal archaeological survey of the project’s entire footprint which had found no heritage sites or relics that would warrant further investigation, and a letter from the Tasmanian Fire Service accepting the company’s bushfire management plan.

Oldfield added “It is important to note that while the provision of the additional information and the massive work that underpins this strengthens MWCC’s development application, it has not changed the project design we publicly released for community feedback in 2018 in any fundamental way.”

Hobart City Council’s acceptance of the additional information means the formal development application process can now start.

Tasmanian Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing, Michael Ferguson welcomed the step forward for cable car stating “this project has the potential to bring significant investment to the state and create new jobs, both during construction and once operational.”

The Government has been consistent that the development needs to obtain all the necessary approvals and go through the usual planning process, which includes a period of public comment.

Oldfied added “Our cable car will provide a new all-year-round experience, giving a much needed shot in the arm for the COVID-19 ravaged tourism industry, and offer locals a bespoke cultural addition Hobart can be proud of.

“This project will make the mountain more accessible to everyone, especially in winter, it will address current traffic congestion, enhance the mountain environment, promote its heritage and vastly improve facilities for visitors.

“Our project includes many best practice conservation features that will improve current effluent treatment and reduce other environmental damage to the mountain, including the reduction in pollution from vehicle numbers, roadkill and also obviating the need to scar the mountain again with a wider road to accommodate growing visitor numbers.

“It will provide between $79 million to $99 million net economic benefit to Tasmania’s economy each year, 200 jobs during its construction and 80 new jobs (50 FTE) in engineering, hospitality and the tourism sectors once operational.

“Once we get planning approval, we are in a great position to start work with the aim of having the cable car operating within 2 years.”

Image: Mt Wellington cable car render courtesy mtwellingtoncablecar.com/