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ROCC

Dec 22 2022
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Well what a year!

By Newsletters
Well what a year!

With your support Residents Opposed to the Cable Car joined the planning appeal proceedings in TASCAT and engaged expert evidence to make the case for the values of kunanyi/Mt Wellington and defend her against the cable car.

While we were successful, and TASCAT comprehensively rejected the slightly scaled-down development proposal, it may not be the end that it should be.  Many of you would have seen the Rockliff Government, through a junior Minister, the Infrastructure Minister, and the Premier himself, declare their unwavering support for a cable car and urge the proponent to reconsider its plans and have another go.

No one really knows what this means. Is this just chest beating and posturing, or if Premier Rockliff is prepared to pervert proper process and bypass the conventional planning system by using its controversial Major Projects process or some other special deal to finally approve a project proven to be deficient?

Meanwhile, conversations have already started about the transport and other proposals that genuinely address issues associated with so many people visiting the Mountain. Aside from the perversion of proper process, if Premier Rockliff does step in with a special approval it will again displace and delay the exploration of genuine options for the Mountain, with the process and political debate again dominated by the cable car.

Have your say on the future of the Mountain. The Wellington Park Trust is consulting the public on its Draft Visitor and Recreation Strategy, an important document given the relentless visitor and tourism pressure the Mountain is under. Thankfully the strategy doesn’t mention a cable car and is largely a positive vision for public access to the Mountain. Have your say here.

Whatever happens in 2023, the TASCAT appeal process (described by the cable car proponent as its independent, non-biased chance for assessment) was a significant blow to the credibility and prospects of a cable car ever being built on the mountain.

As the year ends, we celebrate the TASCAT decision and stand ready for any new challenge that Premier Rockliff might concoct. Hopefully commonsense prevails and the TASCAT decision is
accepted and respected and progress is made on credible, compliant and socially acceptable options for visitor access and amenity on the Mountain.

A thousand thanks to you for your support over many years. Enjoy the Mountain these holidays and get on her slopes to celebrate the Christmas waratahs. Have your say on the future visitor strategy and stay loud and proud about keeping kunanyi cable car-free.

Congratulations and thank you again,

ROCC
Image credit:  Tim Cooper
Nov 11 2022
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TASCAT decision should be the end of a kunanyi cable car

By Media releases
ROCC media release 3/11/22:

TASCAT decision should be the end of a kunanyi cable car

 

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car (ROCC) has welcomed today’s decision of Tasmania’s planning tribunal to refuse a permit for the development of a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington, and thanks the many thousands of people who have joined the campaign to protect kunanyi, donated or made formal submissions.

In the wake of this decision, it is clear the developer has an obligation to abandon its proposal and leave the Mountain cable car-free.

“We’re relieved that this decision is yet another comprehensive rejection of the cable car and thankful to the thousands of people who have stood up for kunanyi, donated to our legal fund and cared enough to take action to protect what is such a special place for so many,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for ROCC.

“This is a clear signal to the proponent, its shareholders and supporters to give up on their vision to privatise the summit of the mountain and abandon this, or any alternative cable car development.

“This saga has cost the community dearly – in time, energy, cohesion and money, and it is time it ended. The developer is the only one that can do that and the onus is on it to accept this decision and allow the community to move on.”

The decision confirms 18 grounds of non-compliance with management and planning provisions, spanning noise and visual impact, geoheritage and biodiversity.

“This is a comprehensive, formal rejection of a development that has never had a social license.”

“This is the eighth incarnation of a cable car on kunanyi and the only one to make to a development application. All have been vigorously opposed by the community and we acknowledge both campaigns past, and colleagues present. This includes our legal team, expert witnesses, other joined parties, Hobart City Councillors and Greens representatives in State and Federal Parliament.”

Key statements from the tribunal decision include:

  • 215 – the Appellant has failed to adequately demonstrate either a significant long term economic community benefit or a significant long term social community benefit.
  • 229 – Therefore the long term impact on vegetation values, insofar that they form habitat for threatened species will not be remedied.
  • 260 – Construction of the pinnacle centre would result in long term or permanent changes to, and loss of visibility of landform features.
  • 342 – The loss (visual amenity) is demonstrated by the manner in which tower 3 and the cables (with or without cable cars) project from the landform above the Organ Pipes escarpment and the cables traverse over the face of the Organ Pipes from a wide range of public and well-used locations.
  • 354  – The form, scale, design and location of the pinnacle centre does not harmonise with the site.
Nov 07 2022
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Celebrate kunanyi & the recent TASCAT ruling

By Newsletters

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car (ROCC) has welcomed the decision of Tasmania’s planning tribunal to refuse a permit for the development of a cable car on kunanyi/Mt Wellington, and now it’s time to celebrate and thank the many thousands of people who have joined the campaign to protect kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Join us to celebrate !