AusLeisure

The group proposing a cable car to the summit of Hobart’s Mount Wellington are planning an expansion of their intended activities having submitted a development application that includes an amphitheatre on top on the mountain, in addition to the previously detailed cafe and restaurant.

Despite not yet having secured a base location for the cable car, the Mount Wellington Cableway Company (MWCC) has submitted a development application for both the summit site and its Hobart operations.

The latter is based on using public land owned by the City of Hobart as a site for its base operations- in which it is being backed by the Tasmanian Government – but opposed to local conservation groups.

In submitting the DA, MWCC Chairman Chris Oldfield urged interested parties to read the 804-page development application first which he said addressed noise, visual and environmental concerns.

He advised “have a look at it and then make up your own mind. You don't need the advice of third parties. Read it for yourself.

"I think people who are genuinely concerned about the environmental impacts understand that this project is a huge plus for the environment.

"If someone is philosophically opposed to development up here then there's nothing I should do to change their mind.

"It's taking 180,000 cars off the road each year, we're taking sewage and waste water off the mountain each night. We're doing a number of things to protect the environment up here.”

MWCC, which has been involved in ongoing disputes with the Council, emphasised that the project will not come at a cost to taxpayers, stating “we're providing this public amenity at no public cost. That's being met by the developers cost.

"It's not that they're set up to be primarily commercial things in their own right. They have to add to the experience of visitors coming to Mount Wellington."

Thousands have previously protested the plan, which the Council now has to determine by the end of July.

Launceston Skyway proposal announced
Plans have also been announced for another multi-million dollar chairlift attraction crossing Cataract Gorge near Launceston in the north of the state.

Proposed by the Gorge Scenic Chairlift, the $20 million Launceston Skyway project would see a cableway built across the gorge for 24 accessible glass gondolas.

Images: MWCC's plans for the summit of Mt Wellington and illustration of the planned Launceston Skyway project (below).

Related Articles

10th August 2018 - Hobart City Council blocks Mount Wellington cable car project’s plan to access public land

1st July 2018 - Mt Wellington cable car backers seek new route up Hobart’s mountain

17th May 2018 - By-election prompts $60 million cable car pledge from Federal and Tasmanian Governments

15th September 2017 - Tasmanian Government land purchase to move Mt Wellington cable car plan forward

8th December 2016 - Arthurs Seat Eagle gets grand opening

6th November 2015 - Mount Wellington cable car plan moves forward

14th November 2014 - Plans move forward for Mount Wellington cable car

23rd August 2014 - Tasmania looks to boost tourism in its natural areas

18th March 2013 - Proposed Mount Wellington Cable Car encounters opposition from Indigenous groups

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.