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The Federal Government is understood to have withdrawn a $30 million grant from the Cradle Mountain Cableway after the Tasmanian Government failed to meet an April deadline for providing required information.

As reported by the ABC, former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the funding in 2018 ahead of the Braddon by-election, with the money coming from the Community Development Grants Programme.

However last October, the current Federal Government announced that uncontracted funding under this grant scheme would need to be contracted by April, and completed by June 2026.

After the June 2026 date the grant scheme will end.

In February, the Commonwealth confirmed it had not received a business case following an inquiry by Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim.

Requested an update, Senator McKim was told by the Commonwealth that the $30 million had been withdrawn, a response by the Commonwealth advising “since the department did not receive the required information from the Tasmanian Government by the 28 April 2023, it was unable to complete an assessment, and the funding commitment was withdrawn from the Cradle Mountain Cableway project."

The cableway was part of the 2016 Cradle Mountain master plan, and was intended to connect the Cradle Mountain visitor centre to Dove Lake for all-weather access.

The Tasmanian Government, which had matched the $30 million Federal grant says it is committed to the project.

Tasmanian State Development Minister Guy Barnett is reported to have requested that the Commonwealth funding be reinstated, with a business case now provided.

Minister Barnett advised in a statement “the Tasmanian Government has completed the business case, which includes a comprehensive analysis of potential cable way routes, to determine what is technically feasible and compatible with the World Heritage status of this iconic area.

The business case now estimates the project would cost $190 million, based on "materials and other construction costs" in a remote location.

The Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre opened in June 2022.

Image: The 2016 concept for the cableway as part of the Cradle Mountain master plan. Credit: Cradle Coast Authority.

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