The LNP-run Brisbane City Council has quietly moved to extend the life of the Mt Coot-tha Quarry, seeking tenders for new 7 year contracts – breaking their promise to close the quarry by 2025 and make it public green space.
Mt Coot-tha is one of Brisbane’s most beloved features; a precious patch of wild, public green space in our increasingly urbanised world, for tourists and locals alike. I was proud to be part of the successful and inspiring community campaign to stop the zipline project back in 2019. This campaign really demonstrated how dearly Brisbane loves the mountain and values its natural heritage.
Right in the middle of this precinct is a giant 30 hectare scar on the landscape: the Mt Coot-tha Quarry. Established in 1919 and owned by Brisbane City Council, the quarry is now well past its use by date – and residents are fed up. The noise, vibrations and dust from blasting are hazardous to the health and wellbeing of local residents (human AND animal), and there are other options for obtaining road materials. Every year that passes without a clear plan increases the cost of rehabilitation to Brisbane ratepayers.
Council spent hundreds of thousands of dollars consulting the community about the quarry's future, and local residents overwhelmingly supported turning the site into publicly accessible greenspace and recreational facilities. Now that feedback is being thrown in the bin.
If we’re going to invite the world in for the 2032 Olympics, we should be asking what kind of city we want to showcase. Do we want visitors to see a giant hole in the ground, or a beautiful, publicly owned greenspace precinct that future generations can enjoy?
Actions You Can Take:
- Sign the petition to close and rehabilitate the Mt Coot-tha Quarry
- Email the Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner today