Media release – Residents Opposed to the Cable Car (ROCC), 3 November 2022
TASCAT decision should be the end of a kunanyi cable car
Residents Opposed to the Cable Car (ROCC) has welcomed today’s decision of Tasmania’s planning tribunal to refuse a permit for the development of a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington, and thanks the many thousands of people who have joined the campaign to protect kunanyi, donated or made formal submissions.
In the wake of this decision, it is clear the developer has an obligation to abandon its proposal and leave the Mountain cable car-free.
“We’re relieved that this decision is yet another comprehensive rejection of the cable car and thankful to the thousands of people who have stood up for kunanyi, donated to our legal fund and cared enough to take action to protect what is such a special place for so many,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for ROCC.
“This is a clear signal to the proponent, its shareholders and supporters to give up on their vision to privatise the summit of the mountain and abandon this, or any alternative cable car development.
“This saga has cost the community dearly – in time, energy, cohesion and money, and it is time it ended. The developer is the only one that can do that and the onus is on it to accept this decision and allow the community to move on.”
The decision confirms 18 grounds of non-compliance with management and planning provisions, spanning noise and visual impact, geoheritage and biodiversity.
“This is a comprehensive, formal rejection of a development that has never had a social license.”
“This is the eighth incarnation of a cable car on kunanyi and the only one to make to a development application. All have been vigorously opposed by the community and we acknowledge both campaigns past, and colleagues present. This includes our legal team, expert witnesses, other joined parties, Hobart City Councillors and Greens representatives in State and Federal Parliament.”
Key statements from the tribunal decision include:
- 215 – the Appellant has failed to adequately demonstrate either a significant long term economic community benefit or a significant long term social community benefit.
- 229 – Therefore the long term impact on vegetation values, insofar that they form habitat for threatened species will not be remedied.
- 260 – Construction of the pinnacle centre would result in long term or permanent changes to, and loss of visibility of landform features.
- 342 – The loss (visual amenity) is demonstrated by the manner in which tower 3 and the cables (with or without cable cars) project from the landform above the Organ Pipes escarpment and the cables traverse over the face of the Organ Pipes from a wide range of public and well-used locations.
- 354 – The form, scale, design and location of the pinnacle centre does not harmonise with the site
Media release – Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Environment spokesperson, 3 November 2022
Cable Car Decision Welcome
The Greens warmly welcome the decision by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to reject the proposed cable car and summit development for kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
This decision is a resounding win for the mountain, and for all who have fought for years against this appalling attempt to commercialise the mountain.
We are delighted the Tribunal has recognised the significant biodiversity, noise, and visual impacts of this proposal. Their comprehensive rejection demonstrates the fundamental and insurmountable problems with building a cable car on kunanyi and commercial developments on the mountain’s summit.
The Mount Wellington Cableway Company’s vain attempts to modify its original proposal to make it more palatable have failed. Their project has been rejected by the wider Tasmanian community, rejected by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, rejected by Hobart City Council, and now rejected by the Tribunal.
The proponents need to read the writing on the wall, and abandon any plans to privatise, commercialise, or develop this beautiful mountain.
kunanyi is a sacred and wild place. It should be protected in perpetuity, and the Greens will consider bringing on legislation to make sure this occurs.
Media release, Andrew Wilkie MP, independent Member for Clark, 3 November 2022
STATEMENT ON THE CABLE CAR DECISION
The decision by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to dismiss the appeal into the proposed Mount Wellington cable car is a wonderful turn of events.
The development never satisfied sensible social, environmental and economic criteria, and this was confirmed by Hobart City Council’s planning report last year. Moreover there has always been strong community opposition to the project.
Regrettably the debate around the cable car has divided Hobart. But the effect the development would have had on the mountain was always much too great, and it’s now important that the proponents abandon the project for good and let the community put the whole sorry saga behind it.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 3 November 2022
kunanyi cable car ‘dead as a dodo’ – Brown
As affected residents celebrated today’s tribunal ruling against the proposed Mt Wellington cable car, South Hobart is the city of smiles.
“It is a great win for people power and for the Hobart City Council doing its job in representing this heritage city’s best future,” Bob Brown said.
“The idea of a cable car on kunanyi is as dead as a dodo. The Rockliff government should now take up Kate Warner’s recommendation that it be returned to the Aboriginal people. Whatever else, the government should save Hobartians from another round of cable car angst by legislating to prohibit cable car proposals on the mountain.”
“Significantly, the tribunal found the project would harm the swift parrot and Tasmanian masked owl. These wonderful creatures need an assured future and the government should follow up today’s win by protecting their habitat which is threatened by mining and logging operations elsewhere in Tasmania.”
Editor’s note: Mount Wellington Cableway Company have neither sent us a statement nor published anything on their social media channels.
