Hobart’s Lord Mayor is advocating for $34 million from the next state government for ‘essential tourism upgrades’ to kunanyi/Mount Wellington.
Anna Reynolds said the state’s number one attraction already welcomes 400,000 visitors each year, with projections indicating a rise to 700,000 per year within the next decade.
“Just like Cradle Mountain and Freycinet, improving the visitor experience of kunanyi/Mount Wellington is an issue of state importance,” Reynolds said.
Among the proposed investments is a $20 million allocation for safe visitor facilities, including parking and access solutions, that manage capacity constraints the council says are “increasingly experienced” on the mountain.
$900,000 is needed for a roundabout at the entrance to Wellington Park, $800,000 for a pinnacle toilet and $1 million for a pinnacle boardwalk.
$300,000 would be needed to create a masterplan for the mountain, with an additional $350,000 for electronic safety signage and $9 million for bolstering Pinnacle Road guardrails.
The Springs would be in line for a $2 million upgrade to toilets, infrastructure and power and drinking water services, while the Pipeline Track could be extended with an extra $1.05 million injection.
Destination Southern Tasmania chief executive Alex Heroys was supportive of upgrades to the mountain he says holds a “special place” in the hearts of both visitors and residents.
He stressed the importance of investing in infrastructure that “enhances the natural experience, encourages dispersion throughout the mountain, and highlights its remarkable offerings”.
“kunanyi is an important part of the nature-based offering that creates demand for visitation to Tasmania,” he said.
“The mountain has long suffered from a lack of investment relevant to its visitation and in comparison, to other natural areas of our state.”
“It is time for us to prepare for the future, have an overarching plan and ensure that the visitor experience matches the expectation of our local community and visitors.”
In 2019, the currently-stalled Mount Wellington Cable Car project, which includes many of the upgrades now being advocated for, was estimated to cost $54 million.
The private cable car venture would not come at a cost to taxpayers, as developers were prepared to foot the bill for the entire project.
