Environmental principles proven in Australia's Skyrail, Cairns, will be used to build the Hong Kong cablecar.

Skyrail ITM will be the consultative partner, bringing to Hong Kong its expertise in building, owning and operating the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway in Cairns, Far North Queensland. This is the world's longest gondola cableway and travels over World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest national park.

MTRC, as developer of the HK$750 million Lantau Island cableway, brings to the partnership a worldwide reputation for providing a reliable, high quality railway service, as well as its local knowledge.

Ken Chapman, managing director of Skyrail ITM, said this was a unique opportunity to expand into Hong Kong "and become a part of this dynamic tourism and economic powerhouse".

"The project itself is unique, innovative and of truly international quality and significance. Skyrail ITM also sees MTRC as the perfect partner for what is expected to be a long term and successful new venture."

MTRC project manager Roger Bayliss said Skyrail had set a new benchmark for environmentally sensitive cableway development. Its Cairns operation has won numerous Australian and international accolades, including the Greening of Business Tourism Award and the prestigious British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Global Award.

This expertise would make a valuable contribution to the Lantau project.

"The natural beauty and sensitive environment of the North Lantau Country Park form a principle feature of the cableway experience and will be important to the success of the business," Mr Bayliss said.

"It is therefore important that we look after the environment as a vital asset."

The Lantau project represents a number of technical and environmental challenges that make it probably the largest and most significant single ropeway project in the world. Its 5.5km length from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping encompases pristine country parks and includes a remarkable 1.5km span over Tung Chung Bay.

The route of the cable car and location of the terminal facilities and a theme village at Ngong Ping will result in both conventional and innovative construction solutions, Mr Bayliss said.

"The mid-station and towers are in the country park and will probably rely on helicopter transport for installation. The low impact, small footprint construction techniques necessary to achieve this have been well established and proven by Skyrail in Australia and are being considered for the Lantau project."

When completed in 2005, the cable car will provide Hong Kong with an outstanding, safe and exciting tourist attraction, Mr Bayliss said.

"For MTRC, it represents an expansion into a new frontier consistent with its strategy to build on its existing skills and develop related business. There are also obvious synergies with the existing MTR network to Tung Chung."

Related links:
MTR Corporation Limited  www.mtr.com.hk/
Skyrail ITM www.skyrail.com.au/
British Airways  www.britishairways.com/