{"id":410743,"date":"2026-01-13T20:31:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T20:31:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/410743\/"},"modified":"2026-01-13T20:31:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T20:31:11","slug":"documents-reveal-tensions-over-kunanyi-mt-wellington-access-plans-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/410743\/","title":{"rendered":"Documents reveal tensions over Kunanyi\/Mt Wellington access plans debate"},"content":{"rendered":"

The body that oversees management of Hobart’s Kunanyi\/Mt Wellington issued a sharp rebuke to the Tasmanian government over its approach to a review of the mountain, describing one aspect as “strange”.<\/p>\n

A letter obtained by the Greens, under right-to-information legislation, shows the Wellington Park Management Trust took exception to the way mountain access issues were being framed by the government.<\/p>\n

It follows earlier criticism from the Trust about a draft recommendation for a cable car.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

It was a rare rebuke from the Wellington Park Management Trust. (Supplied: Sarah Pataky)<\/p>\n

The concerns, detailed in a letter on September 11, include that statistics had been used to “exaggerate” access issues, sustainability language could be misused to “legitimise” tourism infrastructure, and that Aboriginal values were “invisible” in a proposed management framework.<\/p>\n

\"Snow<\/p>\n

There is one road to the mountain summit, which is often closed because of snow and ice. (Hobart City Council)<\/p>\n

The Trust was concerned that the safety implications of all-weather access to the mountain were not being fully considered.<\/p>\n

“Road closures are for public safety and are not necessarily access barriers that should be overcome,” the Trust’s letter reads.<\/p>\n

“Delivering novice visitors into a high-risk environment via an all-weather access solution increases visitor safety risk, and\/or requires significant protective infrastructure.<\/p>\n

“Development of such infrastructure would be difficult owing to a sensitive and challenging environment of immense Palawa value, geoconservation significance and visual amenity.”<\/p>\n

The Trust was responding to a paper sent out by the Department of State Growth, which also included an expression of interest process to “test the market for possible access solutions”.<\/p>\n

\"Bus<\/p>\n

Access to the summit can be limited when there’s snow, while conditions can change quickly. (Facebook: kunanyi\/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus)<\/p>\n

‘Peaceful’ mountain spot undone by social media<\/a><\/p>\n

The made-for-Instagram beauty of a turquoise mountain tarn has again drawn hundreds of people to capture it in photos \u2014 but, like so many other natural wonders \u2014 there are fears it will be loved to death by social media users in search of the perfect image.<\/p>\n

The ABC understands this EOI process is no longer proposed.<\/p>\n

The State Growth paper included a “decision-making framework” for transport on the mountain. Proposals would then be measured against this framework.<\/p>\n

The Trust stated it was unclear how this would interact with existing laws, describing it as “strange”.<\/p>\n

In 2022, Tasmania’s planning tribunal rejected a cable car proposal on 18 grounds, of which 15 were based on the current Wellington Park management plan.<\/p>\n

\"Artist's<\/p>\n

An artist’s impression of cable car infrastructure from a previously rejected proposal. (Mt Wellington Cableway Company)<\/p>\n

User-pays model to be put forward<\/p>\n

At the same time, the Trust \u2014 which includes members from councils and government agencies \u2014 is assessing what a ‘user-pays’ model might look like for the mountain, focusing on road access.<\/p>\n

The ABC understands this could take the form of a pass system \u2014 similar to the Parks Pass<\/a> \u2014 but it would ultimately be a decision of the relevant government minister.<\/p>\n

A business case on a user-pays model is expected to be completed next month, including price points.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Kunanyi\/Mt Wellington is by far Tasmania’s most visited natural site, but its facilities are considered dated and substandard. (ABC News: Maren Preuss\u00a0)<\/p>\n

Kunanyi\/Mount Wellington cable car included in draft recommendations<\/a><\/p>\n

The Tasmanian government has made a draft recommendation for a cable car on Hobart’s Kunanyi\/Mount Wellington, documents released under Right to Information laws show.<\/p>\n

The funds would be used to maintain and upgrade facilities, including toilets, paths and other visitor infrastructure, with a lack of formal revenue options a long-standing issue for the park.<\/p>\n

In November, the federal government provided Hobart City Council with $3.2 million for a feasibility study into a transport hub at Halls Saddle \u2014 a piece of council-owned land just off Huon Road.<\/p>\n

A revised master plan for the site is expected in March, while the federal funding will result in a development-ready plan.<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

The construction of Pinnacle Road to the summit of kunanyi\/Mt Wellington, Hobart, was completed in the 1930s. (Wellington Park Management Trust)<\/p>\n

Cable car remains on the agenda<\/p>\n

The Tasmanian Greens argue the government’s review is intended to make it easier for a cable car to be approved.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Greens MP Vica Bayley says road closures due to unsafe weather conditions are being used politically. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n

Greens Clark MP Vica Bayley said he shared the Trust’s concerns at the framing of the review.<\/p>\n

“These documents confirm that the government’s process is really just about pre-empting a new management plan, trying to get around proper protections for the mountain and facilitate the way for a cable car,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It stymies a proper conversation and real progress on credible solutions to the challenges that faces the mountain.”<\/p>\n

The Mount Wellington Cableway Company welcomed the review when it was announced in 2024, but had been urging the government to act faster.<\/p>\n

\"Graphic<\/p>\n

Another image from a rejected cable car proposal. (Mount Wellington Cable Car Group)<\/p>\n

The review is expected to be finalised in April with an action plan.<\/p>\n

Zip-line plan for Hobart’s mountain<\/a><\/p>\n

It would give riders a thrill lasting “one minute and 20 seconds” \u2014 but opponents to a zip-line plan for Hobart’s mountain say they are “sick” of having to “defend” the area from private developers.<\/p>\n

More than 9,000 people had their say on the review, with a consultation paper outlining that 73 per cent were satisfied with facilities at the pinnacle including car parking and tracks.<\/p>\n

Consultation did not specifically include a cable car, but a significant number of respondents brought it up anyway \u2014 30 per cent saying they support it, 28 per cent saying they are opposed.<\/p>\n

Road or trail closures had affected 51 per cent of respondents at some point, which the government argued highlighted the need for alternative transport options.<\/p>\n

But the Trust disagreed.<\/p>\n

“The statistical framing in the introduction exaggerates current access ‘problems’,” its letter reads.<\/p>\n

“As was previously noted in the drafting of consultation survey questions, visitor understanding of the reasons for road closures are not well understood.”<\/p>\n

Tasmania’s Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, Felix Ellis, said it was “clear that transport options are not up to standard for such an important natural asset”.<\/p>\n

“More than 9,000 Tasmanians contributed to the public consultation process, which shows strong support for improving access, visitor safety and year-round experiences, including exploring all weather transport options,” he said in a statement.<\/p>\n

“This feedback is being worked through and will guide the development of an action plan that we look forward to receiving in early 2026.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The body that oversees management of Hobart’s Kunanyi\/Mt Wellington issued a sharp rebuke to the Tasmanian government over…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":410744,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,99,159279,159278,12349,159277,159282,2801,217306],"class_list":["post-410743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-business","tag-cable-car","tag-kunanyi","tag-management","tag-mount-wellington","tag-mwcc","tag-tasmania","tag-wellington-park"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=410743"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/410743\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/410744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=410743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=410743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=410743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}