Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Environment spokesperson
The Greens warmly welcome the decision by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to reject the proposed cable car and summit development for kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
This decision is a resounding win for the mountain, and for all who have fought for years against this appalling attempt to commercialise the mountain.
We are delighted the Tribunal has recognised the significant biodiversity, noise, and visual impacts of this proposal. Their comprehensive rejection demonstrates the fundamental and insurmountable problems with building a cable car on kunanyi and commercial developments on the mountain’s summit.
The Mount Wellington Cableway Company’s vain attempts to modify its original proposal to make it more palatable have failed. Their project has been rejected by the wider Tasmanian community, rejected by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, rejected by Hobart City Council, and now rejected by the Tribunal.
The proponents need to read the writing on the wall, and abandon any plans to privatise, commercialise, or develop this beautiful mountain.
kunanyi is a sacred and wild place. It should be protected in perpetuity, and the Greens will consider bringing on legislation to make sure this occurs.