Ms O’CONNOR question to MINISTER for PARKS and ENVIRONMENT, Mr DUIGAN
Last Wednesday we asked why you chose to put through this place revocation of a portion of the Mount Roland Regional Reserve, and in our view your explanation was somewhat evasive and certainly not satisfactory. It seems to us more than passing strange that this particular parcel of land adjacent to the business that has pushed for a cable car, was selected for revocation from the reserve and re-zoning. Can you confirm this parcel of former reserve land is intended to be used to facilitate a cable car on Mount Roland? Can you tell the Council what advice you have from the Valuer-General about the value of this parcel of former reserve land?
ANSWER
Mr President, in regard to valuation on the parcel of land, that is not information I have with me here today. I will potentially take that one on notice and see if we can find that.
Ms O’Connor – Potentially, or you will?
Mr DUIGAN – I will take that on notice and see whether such a valuation exists and come back.
Ms O’Connor – It would, I am sure.
Mr DUIGAN – In regard to the original sale process, and I have probably said this before, the land was offered for sale to owners of Silver Ridge Retreat back in the late 1990s, prior to the reservation process. A contract of sale was prepared. However, the parcel was then incorrectly included in the regional reserve and so the sale lapsed.
As I have said, what we are seeking here is a relatively pragmatic, if somewhat time‑shifted, approach to correct an error and provide the current owners of Silver Ridge Retreat an opportunity for certainty over their interests in the area. The sale process will be what was originally planned for the land.
In regards to the cableway of which you speak, in 2018 there was an expression of interest application for the Mount Roland Cableway and Adventure Precinct. The proposal was for a 13‑cabin gondola system to the summit of Mount Roland, mountain biking, rock climbing, bushwalking and sightseeing.
In November 2022, the proponent announced their withdrawal of the Mount Roland cableway project. Any changes to the status of ownership of the land will therefore have no impact on the cableway project, as it has already been withdrawn.
I am not aware of any new proposal. Obviously, as the member would also be aware, any future development, if it were to proceed, would need to go through the relevant planning approvals processes, which would, of course, be subject to public consultation.
Ms O’Connor – Oh, well, this is one you might choose to consult publicly on, unlike the stadium approval bill.
