The Greens are celebrating Albanese Government moves to scrap $30 million in funding for the proposed Cradle Mountain Cableway, as the Tasmanian Government pleads with Canberra to think again and preserve the funding for the project, currently costed at $190 million.
“The project never stacked up, and never had a social license,” said Greens Senator Nick McKim.
“It was simply a pipe-dream of the develop-at-all-costs brigade, and a lazy attempt at pork barrelling. Its cheerleaders should be ashamed of themselves.”
The Tourism Industry Council’s Luke Martin considers the cableway too important to walk away from.
“It is actually the best long-term solution for that national park,” he said.
“The reality is the cost is significant, but the cost of doing nothing is also going to be quite significant because the road is ageing.”
State Development Minister and Lyons MP Guy Barnett says dialogue with his federal counterparts will continue.
He’s blaming Labor’s decision to scrap the Morrison Government’s Community Development Grant program.
“The Tasmanian Government remains committed to a sustainable transport solution to connect the Gateway Village Precinct and Dove Lake and wants to work with stakeholders and the Australian Government on the best pathway forward,” he said.
“However, we must also take a prudent approach to managing Tasmania’s interests and we call on the Australian Government to work with us rather than put this project in doubt.”
