Renowned urban house adapted can be more than just a source of road base for Brisbane’s roads, according to city planner Mike Day, who suggests that the rejuvenation of Mount Coot-tha Quarry could offer a new legacy experience for tourists and become a forested version of South Bank Parklands. Day believes that Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s plan to redevelop the quarry by 2032 should be a project of state significance and that an international design competition or call for expressions of interest could help generate innovative ideas for the site. Local residents, including Greens MP Michael Berkman, oppose the quarry and agree with Schrinner’s call for new uses for Mount Coot-tha Quarry and Pine Mountain Quarry, viewing them as opportunities for transformation similar to the redevelopment of South Bank after Expo ’88.
Drawing inspiration from Canada’s Butchart Gardens, which transformed an old limestone quarry into a family-run attraction, Day envisions a similar future for Mount Coot-tha Quarry. He notes that the shape and design of a quarry can influence its potential uses and that they offer great opportunities for urban renewal despite the complexity of remediation work. Given Mount Coot-tha’s Indigenous history as a place of wild honey for the Turrbal First Nations people, some suggest that the long-planned First Nations Cultural Centre for Brisbane could potentially be located at a reimagined quarry site, highlighting the importance of preserving and celebrating Indigenous heritage in any redevelopment plans.
Comparisons can be made to other quarry redevelopments, such as the reshaping of an old coal plant in Anglesea near the Great Ocean Road using Britain’s Eden Project as a guide, as well as the transformation of Lilydale’s deep quarry into a mixed housing and parkland area in Melbourne. Day sees the potential for a different future for Mount Coot-th Miranda Quarry due to its proximity to the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, suggesting the addition of a conference venue, restaurant, and eco-cabins to complement the existing botanical gardens and create a unique and revenue-generating attraction. Community consultation is ongoing until June 2024 via the Brisbane City Council website, allowing residents to provide input on the future of Mount C Nam Quarry and its potential as a new landmark for the city.
