‘Respect The Mountain’ calls for upgrade at The Springs

Respect The Mountain – No Cable Car today celebrated the opening of the new Pinnacle Lookout complete with heated seats, public telescopes and new information panels (see photos attached) but called on the Hobart City Council to perform similar upgrades at The Springs.

The Springs haven’t had any major upgrades since the 1967 bush fires that swept Hobart and South East Tasmania.

The Pinnacle Lookout had most upgrades completed before the Easter break but the information panels weren’t installed until Monday 5th May, once the school holidays had finished.

Respect The Mountain felt it was now time for the council to upgrade public facilities at The Springs. Spokesperson, Mr. Jason Turvey, said “The toilets at The Springs are shocking! The old toilets from the pinnacle were better and even they got upgraded!” The toilets at the pinnacle were upgraded in Aug 2012.

“What we’re asking the Hobart City Council to do is to provide better toilets and car parking facilities at The Springs.” Respect The Mountain also reminded the Hobart City Council that the permit for Ali Sultan’s development is due to expire on May 8th and that the Hobart City Council should discuss calling for tenders to develop The Springs site at the next council meeting. The Springs is a popular site that locals explore the mountain from.

“Just today Tas Police and the SES performed a SAREX [Search & Rescue Exercise] on the mountain and had to provide a mobile base from the car park in The Springs. There are just no facilities at The Springs!”

Respect The Mountain would like a Mountain Ranger to be based at a Springs Visitor Centre to be able to provide advice to walkers, tourists and travellers of the kunanyi / Mount Wellington.

The Springs has a history of being home to Mountain Rangers providing information for travellers. The first, Charles Gadd, taking on the role about 140 years ago.

Respect The Mountain also called on the State Government to assist with public facility upgrades. “The previous Labour Government had provided a $500,000 grant to improve public facilities and we would expect that this pro-development Liberal Government to match or better this pledge to any potential developer for The Springs.”
Jason Turvey Spokesperson Respect The Mountain – No Cable Car http://www.respectthemountain.org.au