Respect The Mountain – No Cable Car tonight applauded the Hobart City Council’s decision to not grant special circumstances for the Mt. Wellington Cableway Co by extending the development zone on the pinnacle of the mountain.

The decision means that the MWCC will have to adhere to the same regulations as every other development put before council.

The proponent has been boasting that it has financial backers and that funding isn’t going to be an issue but the moment that some money is required to submit a Development Application, it’s asking for special favours.

“This doesn’t sound like a company with money in the bank, which then leaves the question of what money has actually been sourced and how much local authorities will need to contribute?” said Respect The Mountain spokesperson Jason Turvey

While asking the Hobart City Council to agree in-principle to land-owner consent is one method, it is not the only way to change the Development Zone. The zone can be changed through public consultation, which is what happened only 4 months ago. A lot of leeway was given for development on the summit, certainly more than Respect The Mountain would have liked to have seen, yet the MWCC is seeking more.

“The fact that the majority of respondents to the public consultation held by the Wellington Park Management Trust were in opposition to the cable car shows that there are more people against such a development than for it and the Trust needs to respect due process.”

A petition was launched online by MWCC via their website calling for Aldermen to support their request yet when a request for any petitions was made during the council meeting, none were submitted.

“This supports our view that the majority of Hobartians, who have actually taken the time to look at this proposal in depth, don’t support a cable car.” Mr. Turvey reported after the meeting.

Respect The Mountain is still very skeptical of exactly what MWCC is planning to build on the summit and is calling for the proponents to be more open when it comes to announcing what it’s intentions are for developing the Hobart icon.

“It’s our belief that what the MWCC has planned for the summit is of a scale that a majority of locals would not approve of. Hence we haven’t seen any indication of its ideas. They’re claiming to be open and honest yet the one thing that everybody wants to know is being kept under wraps. How can anyone make an informed decision when nothing has been provided? To expect the HCC to do otherwise is reckless.

“We believe they are at the tipping point for support. MWCC have fooled many people into what they will deliver. Yet the more they publicly reveal, the more people we have contacting us asking how they can help stop this. We feel this is another reason why they’re keen to hide further details of what they will build on the summit.”

People wishing to register their opposition to the Mt. Wellington Cableway Co. can do so at http://www.respectthemountain.org.au
Jason Turvey Spokesperson Respect The Mountain – No Cable Car http://www.respectthemountain.com.au