The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre has condemned what the organisation says are "renewed attempts" to construct a zipline on Hobart's Mount Wellington, describing the proposal as "another attack on one of the most sacred cultural landscapes" in Tasmania.

Publicly opposing such a project for the second time this year, the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) says a repeated push for a zipline on the mountain demonstrates "why no major or significant development should proceed anywhere in Tasmania until the Aboriginal Heritage Act is reviewed and modernised".

"We said hands off our mountain and we meant it," Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre campaign manager Nala Mansell said.

"It is deeply disturbing that we have learned through whispers, not any proper notification or process through the Hobart City Council, that the developer is at it again.

"This lack of transparency shows exactly why Aboriginal heritage in this state continues to be placed at risk."

Also known as kunanyi, Mount Wellington has been the subject of multiple development proposals, including both a zipline and cable car, in recent years.

Last month Right to Information documents revealed a draft plan for the mountain proposed by the Department of State Growth to the Wellington Park Management Trust included a recommendation for the contentious cable car proposal, a project which had previously been rejected by the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT).

At the time Tasmanian Greens deputy leader, Vica Bayley, labelled the draft recommendations "deeply disturbing".

"It wasn't part of the consultation, a strong recommendation or theme that a cable car be built," Mr Bayley said, as reported by the ABC.

Ms Mansell said Mount Wellington holds profound cultural, spiritual, and historical significance for Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

"Some will most likely argue that the proposed zipline site sits 'outside Wellington Park', but to us, the rezoning of our mountain by white authorities is completely irrelevant," Ms Mansell said.

"Our ancestral landscape doesn't stop at a survey line. Our cultural responsibilities don't stop at a fence. And developers don't get to decide what is or isn't sacred."

Responding to the TAC's claims, the Hobart City Council says no application for a zipline development on Mount Wellington currently exists.

"The City of Hobart has not received a development application for a zipline on Kunanyi / Mount Wellington," City of Hobart Director Strategic and Regulatory Services, Karen Abey, told National Indigenous Times.

"If an application is lodged, it will be assessed through the standard planning process, which includes public advertisement and opportunities for community and stakeholder input."

A development application for Mount Wellington, which was condemned by the TAC and Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT), was previously lodged by tourism entrepreneur TAZZIP, its proposal seeking to construct a 1,300 metre long zip-line.

The proposal was refused by the Hobart City Council in March.

"The City of Hobart Planning Authority Committee refused the zipline proposal at Wellington Park, citing its prohibition in the Recreation Zone, inconsistency with park values, impact on native vegetation, potential harm to endangered species and noise concerns affecting the area's natural and cultural qualities," a City of Hobart media release read.

National Indigenous Times does not suggest TAZZIP intends to lodge another zipline application for Mount Wellington.

In addition development on Mount Wellington, Ms Mansell also criticised Tasmania's Aboriginal heritage laws, labelling them "the weakest in the country".

"They allow joyrides and tourism gimmicks to be prioritised over cultural landscapes that hold thousands of years of history," Ms Mansell said.

"Our ancestors protected kunanyi. We will do the same."

In September the Tasmanian Parliament unanimously supported a motion from independent MP Craig Garland to redraft the state's dated Aboriginal Heritage Act by March, 2026.

"Our Aboriginal cultural heritage tells an extraordinary tale of ingenuity, resilience and connection to nature, yet we continue to allow the desecration and destruction of that heritage and culture," Mr Garland said at the time, via The Mercury.

"For Aboriginal people, this continued experience of cultural destruction is a living reminder of their shameful treatment since the settlement of Tasmania by Europeans.

"For too long we have failed to give Aboriginal people the respect, recognition and authority they deserve over their rich cultural heritage."

Until the Act is rewritten, the TAC called for "an immediate halt to all major development proposals affecting Aboriginal heritage," and "for mandatory and transparent consultation with the Aboriginal community for all proposals on or impacting cultural landscapes and genuine recognition of cultural landscapes, not just isolated artefacts within the law".

Ms Mansell labelled the current Act "embarrassing".

"The Government knows the Act is useless, and instead of fixing it, they allow developers to keep circling our sacred places like vultures. We are done tolerating this," Ms Mansell said.

"We've already defeated one zipline proposal. We will do it again if we have to.

"Kunanyi is sacred. It is living heritage. And our community will fight, as our ancestors did, to ensure the mountain remains protected for future generations."