The Wellington Park Management Trust, which oversees Kunanyi/Mt Wellington in Hobart, criticized the Tasmanian government's approach to a review of the mountain, describing one aspect as "unclear". A letter obtained by the Greens via right-to-information legislation indicates the Trust expressed concerns regarding how mountain access issues were presented by the government. This follows earlier criticism from the Trust about a draft recommendation for a cable car.
Key Concerns Raised by the Trust
The Trust's letter, dated September 11, detailed several points of concern:
- Statistics were used in a way that magnified access issues.
- Sustainability language could be utilized to justify tourism infrastructure.
- Aboriginal values were not sufficiently represented in a proposed management framework.
- The safety implications of all-weather access were not fully considered. The Trust stated that road closures are for public safety and that enabling novice visitors into high-risk environments via all-weather access increases safety risks or necessitates significant protective infrastructure, which would be challenging to develop due to the sensitive environment.
The Trust's response was directed at a paper from the Department of State Growth, which had included an expression of interest (EOI) process for "possible access solutions". This EOI process is reportedly no longer being pursued. The State Growth paper also featured a "decision-making framework" for mountain transport, which the Trust found unclear in its interaction with existing laws.
Background and Previous Proposals
- In 2022, Tasmania's planning tribunal rejected a cable car proposal on 18 grounds, with 15 relating to the existing Wellington Park management plan.
- The Trust is currently evaluating a 'user-pays' model for mountain road access, potentially involving a pass system similar to the Parks Pass. A business case for this model, including price points, is expected next month.
- Funds from a user-pays system would support facility maintenance and upgrades, addressing a long-standing issue of insufficient revenue options for the park.
- The federal government provided Hobart City Council with $3.2 million for a feasibility study into a transport hub at Halls Saddle, with a revised master plan expected in March.
Ongoing Review and Opposition
The Tasmanian Greens assert that the government's review aims to simplify the approval process for a cable car. Greens Clark MP Vica Bayley stated that the government's process appears to pre-empt a new management plan to facilitate a cable car, rather than fostering discussions on credible solutions.
The Mount Wellington Cableway Company welcomed the review upon its announcement in 2024.
Public consultation on the review received over 9,000 responses. While the consultation did not specifically mention a cable car, 30 percent of respondents expressed support, and 28 percent expressed opposition when it was brought up. Fifty-one percent of respondents reported being affected by road or trail closures at some point, which the government cited as evidence for alternative transport options. However, the Trust challenged this, stating that the statistical framing magnified current access problems and that visitor understanding of road closure reasons is often limited.
Tasmania's Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Felix Ellis, commented that current transport options are "not up to standard" for the natural asset and that consultation showed strong support for improving access, safety, and year-round experiences, including exploring all-weather transport options.
The review is anticipated to conclude in April with an action plan.