Respect The Mountain called upon Mt Wellington Cableway Co to stop wasting the Hobart City Council’s time over trivial concerns about ‘in-principle’ support when it was apparent that the development would not meet requirements set out in the Wellington Park Management Plan.

At the Hobart City Council meeting on April 28th, Council ‘reaffirm[ed] its position that it will only consider development applications that are consistent with the Wellington Park Management Plan.’

The current Pinnacle Site Development Plan (SDP) states ‘It allows for the continued use of existing telecommunication facilities and for the development of further visitor information facilities and infrastructure, however prohibits larger scale development such as shops, restaurants and accommodation, and the intrusion of further developments into the skyline.”’

It goes on to say ‘In redefining the boundaries of the Pinnacle Zone, it is important to consider further development at the Pinnacle is discouraged by the Wellington Park Management Plan and it is, therefore, appropriate to define the boundaries around existing features to reduce potential encroachment into otherwise natural areas.’

By contrast, The Springs SDP ‘includes the provision to build a day use centre at the Springs incorporating a visitor centre, shop, restaurant, parking areas and public toilets.’

Currently MWCC is boasting plans for not only a cable car terminal but also a Park Rangers Office, Education Centre, Interpretation Wall, Additional Toilets, All Day Cafe with Open Fireplace, Fine Dining Restaurant, Function Room, Wind-breaks, Rooftop Lookout, Paragliding Launchpad and a Seasonal Snowboarding Terrain Park!

Restrictions on development at the Pinnacle also limit any new building to one storey (3.5m) and no greater than 100m². By comparison, the current Pinnacle Shelter, built before the Wellington Park Act in 1988, is approximately 124m²

“This is a phenomenal amount of development that clearly doesn’t meet the Wellington Park Management Plan and is unlikely to pass through the next stage.” spokesperson Jason Turvey said. “To try to get in-principle support for a development that is unlikely to pass the next stage is just a waste of everyone’s time.”

“It is also worth pointing out that no Expression of Interest has been made by Hobart City Council and therefore it is unfounded to claim that the proponents ideas are the best possible facility that could service the people of Hobart.”

“Respect The Mountain – No Cable Car remains steadfast in our view that visitor services for the mountain be holistic and provide equal opportunity for people to access all parts of the mountain, especially on the eastern face of the mountain. We do not feel that privatising access to a mountain ranger at the summit in poor weather is practical for those wishing to explore lower areas of the park, nor does it make sense for people to have to drive to the top of the mountain in order to gain information on areas they have already passed through.”

“We don’t have cafes and visitor centres at the foot of Russell Falls, next to Dove Lake or at the edge of Wineglass Bay because people to there to enjoy the natural beauty with only the minimal amount of development.”

“The Springs is clearly the most suitable place to provide a visitor centre experience and the focus of development needs to centre in this area.”
Jason Turvey Spokesperson Respect The Mountain – No Cable Car http://www.respectthemountain.org.au