Media Release
11 May 2012
Mt Wellington public forum: Tuesday 22 May at 7.00pm, Baha’i Centre of Learning for Tasmania
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust is holding a public forum to discuss the natural values of Mt Wellington and why significant development (including a cable car) should not be permitted at the pinnacle or any other sensitive areas of Wellington Park.
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has a long association with Wellington Park starting back in the late 1960’s when the TCT began lobbying for a management plan for the area. The TCT’s early draft management plan was co-opted by the Hobart City Council and resulted in the establishment of the East Wellington Range Management Committee in the 1970s to finalise a Mountain Park management plan.
The TCT’s Biodiversity Campaigner, and event organiser, Ms Jennifer Rowallan, stated that ‘Again in the 1990s the TCT was integral in lobbying for the establishment of the current Wellington Park Management Trust. During this time and to date, the TCT has strongly opposed proposals of a cable car to Mt Wellington, a debate which has been a recurring issue since 1905’.
‘Since 1905, the cable car idea has been revived over half a dozen times and each time it has been rejected by the general public’, said Ms Rowallan
One of the reasons the TCT has initiated this public meeting is to build interest in the ongoing review of the Wellington Park Management Plan.
‘The Wellington Park Management Trust released a discussion paper for public comment at the end of 2011 and we expect a draft management plan to be released in June this year.
‘Public comments to the draft plan are the most significant way in which people can influence the future management of Wellington Park and we hope to engender enough interest in people to make submissions.
‘We are encouraged by the comments received on the 2011 discussion paper which generally support retention of the status quo in terms of development on and access to Mount Wellington’, said Ms Rowallan.
Responses to the discussion paper (as summarised on the Wellington Park Management Trust web site) found that:
– 63.4% of people either strongly approve or approve of maintaining the prohibition of commercial development outside of the Springs.
– 56.8% strongly disapprove or disapprove of allowing for consideration of alternative forms of transport to the pinnacle plus associated commercial development. A range of options from a cable car to mini buses and 4- wheel drives during and following heavy snow falls were considered.
– 83.3% either strongly approve or approve of maintaining the existing snow management access approach.
The public forum will be held on Tuesday 22 May at the Baha’i Centre of Learning for Tasmania from 7pm. This event is open to all interested individuals.
The evening will be chaired by Margaret Steadman. Guest speakers include Geoff Law, Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick, Peter McGlone, and local Fern Tree business owner Matt Kruse. A question and answer forum will follow the speakers’ session.
Earlier on Tasmanian Times:
We love Mt Wellington … naturally
TT What’s On
Jennifer Rowallan, Biodiversity Campaigner Tasmanian Conservation Trust
