Tas Conservation Trust
The Tasmanian Conservationist
The Tasmanian Conservationist
Tas Conservation Trust
Mt. Wellington Cable Car hearings begin

TASCAT hearings for the Mount Wellington Cable Car began today, and will run for approximately three weeks / one month. Of the 21 grounds for refusal, Hobart City Council has dropped 4 grounds and retained 17.

Mt. Wellington Cable Car hearings begin

Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (TASCAT) 102/21P

TCT has prepared a summary of the recordings of the TASCAT hearings of the appeal against Hobart City Council’s rejection of the Mt. Wellington Cable Car.

The hearings consist of barristers interrogating the written statements of witnesses presented to the tribunal.

Week one consisted entirely of the statements by expert witnesses and other witnesses presented by the Mt. Wellington Cable Car Company (MWCCC).

Week two was an approximately even split between MWCCC and the Hobart City Council expert witnesses, with week three comprising witnesses from Hobart City Council, Hobart Progress Association, Karl Rollings ( a private citizen) and Residents Opposed to the Cable Car.

Anson’s Bay Supreme Court Challenge

Anson’s Bay Supreme Court Challenge

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust is challenging a forest practices plan (FPP) to clear 1,804 hectares of native forest and convert it to pasture for cattle grazing. The clearing operation is near Ansons Bay. The area is greater than all the permitted clearing under the Forest Practices Act 1985 state-wide for the last three years. The TCT seeks for the Supreme Court to declare the FPP invalid, to prevent the forests being cleared. The court case is listed for hearing on 2-3 May 2022. We need donations to fund this court case. You can help by donating on our website.

Cable Car Proposal Impact on Local Resident Phil Stigant

Cable Car Proposal Impact on Local Resident Phil Stigant

For the last eight years Phil Stigant has been involved in the struggle to stop the building of a cable car and associated buildings on kunanyi.

“I had at first thought there was no risk of this occurring because the mountain is protected by the Wellington Park Act and the Wellington Park Management Plan, both of which make it clear that recreation and tourism uses are only permitted to the extent that they are consistent with natural values.

Cable Car Waiting Game

The Hobart City Council voted to refuse the kunanyi/Mt Wellington cable car proposal on 27 July 2021. The proponent commenced an appeal of that decision on 11 August 2021 (to the recently renamed Planning and Resource Management Stream of the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal). A total of ten parties including the TCT have joined the appeal (nine of whom oppose the proposal). As was expected, the proponent made a proposal to the tribunal to amend the development. We believe the amendment includes very significant changes.

Nevertheless, the tribunal decided on 24 December 2021 that the proposed changes were acceptable and therefore the appeal would continue and address this version of the proposal. A significant concession to parties opposed to the proposal is that the proponent will be required to submit to the tribunal and all parties revised assessment reports (on a date yet to be decided) taking into account the changes to the development. The Tribunal has set down the hearing dates for 22 August to 9 September 2022.

Peter McGlone

Arm End Golf Course and Pipeline Stalled

Arm End Golf Course and Pipeline Stalled

The long-delayed Arm End golf course and associated recycled water pipeline has not moved closer to any actual construction even with the announcement of a federal government grant of $5 million. There are now three connected projects – golf course, pipeline and a water treatment plant – and one proponent under different names. The golf course proposed for Arm End reserve was approved in 2016 and the pipeline in 2019, both by the Clarence City Council. Neither has commenced.

Reserve Development Process Rigged

Reserve Development Process Rigged

On 9 September 2021 the Minister for the Parks and Wildlife Service, Jacquie Petrusma, issued a media release regarding the ‘reform’ of ‘the Reserve Activity Assessment (RAA) system’. This came just prior to the 16 September 2021 announcement by the Minister for Primary Industries, Guy Barnett, of the state government’s intention to create a new ten-year salmon plan (see article ‘A New Ten Year Salmon Plan’).

A Ten Year Salmon Plan

A Ten Year Salmon Plan

On 16 September 2021 the Minister for Primary Industries, Guy Barnett, announced the state government’s intention to create a new ten-year salmon plan. When reading anything about the 10-Year Salmon Plan, it is important to ask ‘what if anything has the current plan achieved?’ Is it possible that the 2017 plan was designed to just reflect what the industry intended to do and so achieved nothing?

30 Years of Marine Reserves in Tasmania

30 Years of Marine Reserves in Tasmania

Thirty years have passed since the declaration of the first specific no-take marine reserves in Tasmania. It’s time to look back on how much progress we’ve made since then. In September 1991 four marine nature reserves were declared. Recreational and commercial fishing were prohibited within the boundaries of Ninepin Point, Tinderbox and Governor Island marine reserves and within about half of the Maria Island marine reserve, which is larger than the other three.

Controversy continues over JAC’s Launceston Gorge Hotel Project

Controversy continues over JAC’s Launceston Gorge Hotel Project

Although the original plans to build the controversial Gorge Hotel were rejected by the Resource Management and Planning Appeals Tribunal in late 2019, the developer, Josef Chromy’s JAC Group, submitted an amendment in mid-2021 to Launceston City Council’s Interim Planning Scheme that saw the project back on the drawing board. The Draft Amendment 66 was to allow a Specific Area Plan (SAP) for the Paterson Street site. Approval would enable construction of the nine-storey, 145-room proposal to proceed.

Tasmanian Planning Policies

In the lead-up to the 2014 state election the Liberal party had a policy to: ‘Immediately after the election ... commence drafting state policies to provide the necessary guidance to councils on how to implement the single statewide planning scheme and plan for Tasmania’s future land use needs.’ The election policy made it clear the policies were to focus on economic development but it offered some hope that development of the proposed statewide planning scheme would be based on new or revised polices.