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AAP
AAP
Politics
Ethan James

Tas govt doubles down on cable car support

Tasmania's government has doubled down on support for a cable car to the top of Mt Wellington. (Ethan James/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Tasmania's government has doubled down on support for a cable car "solution" running to the top of Hobart's rugged mountain, despite the latest proposal seemingly reaching a dead end.

The Mount Wellington Cableway Company's controversial plan included building a new centre at the top of kunanyi/Mt Wellington and a two-car, three-tower cable car.

The plans were rejected by the Hobart City Council in July last year, and in November a scaled-back version was knocked back by Tasmania's planning tribunal.

The company had one month to appeal the tribunal decision with the Supreme Court, but on Tuesday confirmed no appeal had been lodged.

Residents Opposed to the Cable Car spokesman Vica Bayley said it should signal the end of the cable car "pipe dream".

"The concept of a cable car and the proponent who championed it have lost all credibility through this long, sorry saga and it should be the end ... for good," Mr Bayley said.

The planning tribunal found the project didn't meet noise, visual and biodiversity standards, and would have impacted the "quiet enjoyment" of the mountain.

The company must wait two years before again lodging plans with the Hobart council.

However, a car cable plan could also be assessed via a different process if considered a "major project" by the state government.

Liberal MP Felix Ellis said the state government was broadly looking at "where to" from here.

"(We're) disappointed that the outcome hasn't been successful this time," he told reporters.

"The current situation on the mountain is madness. The volume of traffic we have there ... it's not a sustainable solution long-term.

"Our government is a really strong supporter of a cable car solution to the transport problems on Mt Wellington and we'll be investigating the options as appropriate."

The Mount Wellington Cableway Company was founded in 2012 and unveiled a full proposal in 2018, the same year thousands attended an anti-cable car rally.

Recently re-elected Hobart mayor Anna Reynolds described the proposal as damaging.

"Our decision to reject it was challenged, but ultimately agreed to by the independent planning tribunal experts," she said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

"For the first time in a decade we have clear air to work with the community and other agencies who are responsible for the management of our beautiful kunanyi/Mt Wellington."

Ms Reynolds said she was keen to agree on a master plan for improving transport and visitor facilities on the mountain.

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