Cradle Mountain’s $60 million cable-way development is set to go ahead.
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Wednesday will announce $30 million in federal funding for the project, matching the state government’s funding commitment.
“This is a significant and game-changing investment in Tasmania’s future,” Mr Turnbull said.
“This investment will help unlock new construction and tourism jobs for Tasmania.
“The cable-way will ensure a world-class visitor experience at Cradle Mountain.
“It will provide hundreds of thousands of visitors with all-year, all-weather transport between the gateway precinct and Dove Lake.”
Braddon Liberal candidate Brett Whiteley said the project would give North-West tourism the sort of boost MONA gave the South.
“This is a great example of what can be achieved with a Liberal government in Tasmania and a Coalition government in Canberra working closely together,” Mr Whiteley said.
A construction start date is not yet known, but the governments are believed to be keen on sooner rather than later.
Mr Turnbull described the the mountain as a “natural, national treasure” and one of the world’s “most spectacular and special places”.
“The cable-way will give more Australian and international visitors an opportunity to experience its beauty in an environmentally sustainable way,” he said.
Mr Turnbull and Premier Will Hodgman said local residents would be offered discounted tickets on the cable-way.
They said it was expected to help attract an extra 60,0000 visitors to Cradle Mountain each year.
It is expected to create 150 jobs during construction and 50 ongoing jobs.
It is part of the $160 million Cradle Mountain Master Plan, which also has state funding of $21.8 million for a new visitor centre.
Mr Hodgman said the cable-way project “will ensure that the iconic Cradle Mountain takes its place alongside the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru as one of our nation’s greatest World Heritage sites”.
“This investment will ensure that Cradle Mountain’s natural beauty is matched by world-class infrastructure that will also protect it for generations to come.”
He said it would support the government’s plan for targeted and sustainable growth in tourism that would protect what was special about Tasmania.
“Importantly, it will boost jobs, investment and the visitor economy in the Cradle Coast region and broader Tasmania,” Mr Hodgman said.
Labor is also supportive of the cable-way.
State Labor promised $30 million and federal Labor in its 2016 election campaign promised $15 million to upgrade facilities and infrastructure at the mountain.
In November, state Labor Leader Rebecca White said she was confident another $30 million of federal funding for the cable-way could be secured.