Documents released under Right to Information reveal a proposed Action Plan, the next step in Minister Eric Abetz’s ‘shared’ vision for Kunanyi/Mt Wellington, includes a draft recommendation for a cable car. It’s counter to viewpoints expressed in the consultation process and aims of the published Vision report.
The revelation confirmed fears that Minister Abetz’s process, now overseen by Minister Ellis, is little more than a ministerial intervention to try to breathe life into the cable car project. This is despite the fact it was comprehensively rejected by the community, the landowner and the independent planning tribunal when assessed on appeal.
The RTI documents — July minutes of the Wellington Park Management Trust — contain more information than those publicly released. They questioned why the Shared Vision process was Minister Abetz’s review alone, and did not involve the responsible minister or take a whole-of-government approach.
Since Premier Rockliff’s 2023 state of the state speech this government has promised to find a way to approve a cable car on kunanyi. It is now clearer than ever that the current review is Minister Abetz’s pathway.
A cable car, crossing the Organ Pipes and landing in a large commercial building on the pinnacle, has never been a transport solution. It will come at a cost to the values of the park that are protected because people hold them dear.
It’s nothing more than a land grab for some of the best views in Hobart. The Liberals want to privatise the pinnacle for a bar, restaurant and function centre.
There is no evidence to suggest a cable car is an appropriate or accepted development for Kunanyi. Yet it seems the Minister wants it recommended as part of his personal review of the Mountain.
The Vision Consultation report makes it clear that focus groups found ‘large scale development was largely unsupported’. The published Vision itself highlighted the need to ensure natural and community values were protected — values the cable car was found would destroy.
There is no doubt that Kunanyi/Mt Wellington faces many challenges, including visitation pressures, under investment, bushfire and climate-related risks. But a cable car addresses none of them. Until the idea is abandoned, it will continue to stymie genuine progress on credible answers to the issues facing it.
