The main point of conjecture is which issue is Minister Groom trying to distract us from? As a conjuring track this one lacks the prestige.
Pardon me if I sound a little cynical of my local newspaper’s pronouncement that the cable car is back on the agenda.
On 13 November last year the Mercury published an article headlined ‘Mt Wellington National Park push’.
The Mercury claimed that Minister Groom ‘continues to keep the door ajar on the possibility’ despite not having the consent of the the Hobart City Council as landowner.
Luke Martin chimed in with his support.
Ten months later there not one word more about this proposal.
Now the Mercury claims the ‘state starts process for cable-car project’ despite Matthew Groom and his Tasmanian Development Board having no formal role in the Projects of State Significance process.
Under law the Premier makes a recommendation to Parliament.
Luke Martin’s contribution was to say he was pleased there was now a clear process, when nothing stops the cable car being submitted to the Council today and assessed in the normal way – except perhaps insufficient funding for the application fee.
The main point of conjecture is which issue is Minister Groom trying to distract us from?
As a conjuring track this one lacks the prestige.
Tasmanian Conservation Trust
Level 2, 191-193 Liverpool St, Hobart 7000
Phone: +61 3 6234 3552
Web: www.tct.org.au
Peter McGlone, Director Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc
