John Watson of Wombarra Springs Conference Centre has commissioned Austrian cable car and gondola experts Doppelmayr to investigate the project.

Mr Watson revealed the plans to coincide with the Mercury's debate on the City We Want.

And he is calling for residents, businesses and tourism operators to tell him what they think of the plan.

A cable car taking visitors to the top of Mt Keira was one idea put forward by readers during the debate. Mr Watson started working on a similar plan for a cable car from his Wombarra property late last year.Two weeks ago, the Austrian company sent back a report confirming that a "reversible ropeway" could be suitable for his plan.

The proposal includes two 15-person gondolas that would traverse 433m up and down the escarpment, high above the tree tops.

Mr Watson said the environmentally friendly project would require only a base station and a top station, with no support pylons along the route.

"One of the most exciting things is that when the gondola coming down is heavier than the one going up, it will actually generate electricity that will feed back into the grid," Mr Watson said.

He hoped to provide pedestrian links so bushwalkers using existing escarpment walking trails could jump on board the gondola.

His vision would also include a public lookout near the gondola's top station and shuttle buses running from Sea Cliff Bridge, Southern Gateway visitors centre at Bulli Tops or Wombarra Railway Station.

Mr Watson said the project could be complemented by an escarpment or environmental education centre, in addition to the centre he already runs from the Pit Rd property.

To reflect the site's former life as the South Clifton Colliery, he is considering naming the attraction the South Clifton Skyrail.

Mr Watson estimated the total cost of the project would exceed $4.2 million once he included landscaping, road and car park upgrades and other facilities.

Tourism Wollongong general manager Greg Binskin said a cable car had always been something the tourism industry wanted.

"Many places in New Zealand, like Rotorua and Christchurch, have them and we would welcome someone coming into the city to provide that sort of infrastructure which would provide a good product mix to our visitors," Mr Binskin said.

He said Tourism Wollongong had promoted the idea of a cable car to Mt Keira, which already has a restaurant and facilities at the top.

But Mr Binskin believed the idea could work elsewhere if it linked to other facilities.