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Mountain Journal

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Mt Wellington

An important meeting about the future of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington

There has been a long and spirited campaign against the proposal from The Mt Wellington Cableway Company (MWCC) to build a commercial centre on the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, an aerial tramway up the face of the mountain, and associated infrastructure and works (background information available here). Now, with a state election coming up soon, Residents Opposed to the Cable Car are urging locals in nipaluna/ Hobart to attend an important public meeting.

Continue reading “An important meeting about the future of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington”

A zip line on kunanyi/ Mt Wellington?

Tasmania/ lutruwita is blessed with hundreds of mountains and mountain ranges (the ‘Abels’). Although generally lower than the high country of south eastern Australia, they tend towards the rocky and sheer, and many have wonderful summits. Some, like Frenchmans Cap, Federation Peak and Mt Geryon, are impressive rocky mountains. But sadly, successive state governments and developers have spent years obsessing over building things on many mountain tops.

From the long campaign to halt a cable car up the main face of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington, to the proposal for a Gondola up along Cradle Valley to Dove Lake and the short lived idea of constructing a cable car up Mt Roland, the mountaintops have long been an allure to those who want to convert beauty into profit. There are even plans for a cable car up Mt Owen, on the west coast.

Now, a tourism ‘entrepreneur’ wants to build what he says would be “the longest, fastest and highest zip-line in the Asia-Pacific” on the mid slopes of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington. 

Continue reading “A zip line on kunanyi/ Mt Wellington?”

Stand up for the Mountain – no cable car on kunanyi

The Mt Wellington Cableway Company’s (MWCC) proposal for a commercial centre on the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, aerial tramway up the face of the mountain, associated infrastructure and works is now open for public comment. Whether you live in Hobart or just love the mountain, you can make a submission about the proposal.

Local residents group Respect the Mountain – No Cable Car says: ‘The Mountain is too significant, too wild to be handed over to developers. MWCC’s plan degrades kunanyi/Mt Wellington and fails to comply with much of the relevant legislation’.

Continue reading “Stand up for the Mountain – no cable car on kunanyi”

Keep kunanyi cable car free

The Mt Wellington Cableway Company’s proposal for a commercial centre on the summit of kunanyi/Mt Wellington, aerial tramway up the face of the mountain, associated infrastructure and works is now open for public comment. If you live in Hobart you can make a submission about the proposal.

Continue reading “Keep kunanyi cable car free”

Cable car developer pushes ahead with plans for kunanyi/Mt Wellington

The development application for a controversial proposal to build a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington could be voted on as early as July, but members of the Aboriginal community say the site is sacred and they will do “whatever it takes” to stop it going ahead.

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Public forum: Reclaim Our Reserves!

The Tasmanian Liberal government continues to pursue an agenda that would see national parks and other protected areas opened up to further commercial tourism. After spending decades working to see these areas protected, environmental groups are organised against the many specific proposals. Now there is a growing connection being drawn between the various groups and issues in play across the state.

There will be a public forum in Hobart on December 10 to address the scale of the threats to wild places.

Continue reading “Public forum: Reclaim Our Reserves!”

Cable Car application is ‘incomplete’

The long attempt by a developer to build a cable car up the face of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington, in Hobart continues. The proponent, Mt Wellington Cable Car (MWCC) has submitted it’s Development Application (DA) to Hobart City Council. However local resident’s group Respect the Mountain. No Cable Car say that the DA application is incomplete.

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TAS Major Projects Assessment legislation in parliament this week?

The Major Projects legislation has been widely condemned by community, residents and environmental groups in Tasmania. Now the state government has confirmed they will table the Major Projects legislation this week in Parliament (possibly as early as August 18).

Community group Planning Matters Tasmania (PMT) is calling on Tasmanians to contact the ALP to urge them to oppose the legislation.

Continue reading “TAS Major Projects Assessment legislation in parliament this week?”

Cable car developer lodges extra information on proposal

A developer has long attempted to build a cable car up the face of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington, above Hobart (background information available here). It has been resisted for years by local residents, environmentalists, and many others who fear the visual impacts of the project.

The proponent, Mount Wellington Cable Way Company (MWCC), had been requested by Hobart City Council (HCC) to provide additional information before it could consider the development application (DA). MWCC has now provided extra details.

Continue reading “Cable car developer lodges extra information on proposal”

No Fast Track for dodgy developers in Tasmania

The community continues to oppose plans by the Tasmanian government to radically increase private commercial development in the state’s national parks and World Heritage Areas.

However, the government continues to push ahead with it’s anti environment agenda. Now it’s proposed Major Project Legislation is back for a third time and this version should ring alarm bells for everyone concerned about protecting wild places.

Main concerns about the legislation when it comes to wild places like World Heritage Areas include:

  • The Major Projects Bill gives the minister total power to declare a major project which removes it from the normal local council planning process, and virtually any development that would normally go to a local council could be declared a major project.
  • All controversial projects around Tasmania such as the cable car on kunanyi/ Mt Wellington or the Lake Malbena Helicopter proposal could be fast tracked.
  • The community will have no right to appeal against the approval of a major project and will have limited right to have input.

Please make a submission – we have until May 15 2020.

Continue reading “No Fast Track for dodgy developers in Tasmania”

A new year, time for new campaign issues?

We still have a long hot dry summer ahead of us. And fires that threaten the mountains that we love so much. But we are also moving towards New Years Eve, when people often make their plans for the coming year.

For me a big part of my planning for the year is to lock in my backcountry trips (here’s my favourite 3 backcountry adventures). Obviously it’s good to have a long think about life, the universe and everything. And then there is activism. 

Sadly, on the activist front there will be lots to do in 2020. Here’s a few ideas on where you may want to put your shoulder to the wheel.

Continue reading “A new year, time for new campaign issues?”

Update on the kunanyi/ Mt Wellington cablecar proposal

Mount Wellington Cableway Company (MWCC) want to build a cablecar up the face of kunanyi/ Mt Wellington, in Hobart. This is being resisted by a determined community based campaign. Things have been a bit quiet of late. Here is an update from Residents Opposed to the Cable Car which highlight some significant shortcomings in the development application for the cablecar proposal.

Continue reading “Update on the kunanyi/ Mt Wellington cablecar proposal”

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