The group promoting a plan to have cable cars
rolling up and down Dunedin's High St has been encouraged to
continue its work by the Dunedin City Council.
However, councillors at yesterday's economic development
committee meeting reiterated there was no funding available
in the council's long-term council community plan (LTCCP) to
develop the proposal.
The Dunedin Cable Car Trust is promoting the project to have
cable cars used on a 1.5km route linking the Exchange and
Mornington.
A second group of three Dunedin men has proposed a route that
would take cable cars from the Dunedin Railway Station,
through the Octagon and up Stuart St.
Both projects were the subject of an independent feasibility
study commissioned by the council, which questioned the
economic feasibility of either but showed the High St project
was the more practical of the two.
Speaking at yesterday's meeting, council strategy and
development general manager Kate Styles said if the High St
project was to proceed, the trust would have to present a
more detailed outline to the council's annual plan hearings.
The trust has already indicated a willingness to continue
with a detailed investigation of the route, which would cater
for commuters.
Cr Chris Staynes, who has met both groups, said there were
many issues still to resolve, including health and safety
considerations related to whether open heritage cars could be
used.
"They may end up at [January's] annual plan. My gut feeling
is it will take a bit longer than that," he said.
However, the end result could be "quite a significant
catalyst" for heritage tourism in Dunedin, he said.
Committee chairman Cr John Bezett said he had been "nervous"
about running cable cars in Stuart St, because of the cost
and disruption to traffic.
However, the council's report on the High St proposal showed
there was "some support for what they are advocating".
Deputy mayor Syd Brown said more details on costs were
needed, as the feasibility study identified capital costs of
up to $19 million would be required for the High St route.
"How is that going to be funded?
"We need to get a better picture of what we are being asked
to support. Until we get that . . . we shouldn't be giving
them any indication of support," he said.
The trust took issue with some of the feasibility study's
conclusions, but council chief executive Jim Harland said the
trust would have to study the report in detail and bring back
its own information that addressed the findings.
He said he would encourage the trust to look at other
potential sources of capital for the project.
Cr Richard Walls said cable cars would "return to Dunedin
something that was a unique part of our history", but the
chances of the project going ahead were only between 20% and
50%.
"That's how tough it will be," he said.
Councillors voted to invite the trust to bring the findings
of its detailed investigation of the High St cable car
project back to the council at a later date.
Trust spokesman Phil Cole said, in a media release, the group
welcomed the council's encouragement.
A meeting of the trust and supporters would be held in
January, with fundraising and other issues debated, followed
by a full survey of High St residents and businesses, he
said.
"It is vital for the success of the project that the
Mornington community are supportive."
chris.morris@odt.co.nz
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