The Queensland Greens have slammed Brisbane City Council’s LNP administration for further delaying the closure and rehabilitation of the Mt Coot-tha Quarry, with recent committee minutes revealing seven-year contracts were released for tender this month.
Council’s own Neighbourhood Plan previously marked the quarry for closure by 2025, with the deadline pushed back repeatedly despite Council’s “visioning project” showing clear support for new public green space and recreational opportunities.
Council’s internal report cites construction needs for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as one of the primary reasons for keeping this Quarry open, at least eight years beyond its promised closure.
Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman:
“Let’s do a quick score check on Schrinner’s record: one total capitulation to AirBnB, zero new public transport before the Olympics, and seven more years kicking quarry rehab down the road. The LNP is dragging Brisbane and Queensland down.
“Council spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on a consultation process where locals said they want the Mt Coot-tha Quarry closed and rehabilitated as public greenspace, then Schrinner basically threw the report in the bin.
"What do we want to show people in 2032 - a hole in the ground or a beautiful, publicly owned greenspace precinct?"
Greens Councillor for Paddington Ward Seal Chong Wah:
“Once again, the Olympics are being used to reduce Brisbane’s sustainability, rather than enhance it.
“Instead of protecting and expanding our greenspaces, this Council is doubling down on mining one of Brisbane’s largest and most important natural reserves.”
Greens Councillor for the Gabba Ward Trina Massey:
“The Lord Mayor and the LNP love making promises they never deliver, and after broken promise after broken promise, from Airbnb crackdown to Victoria Park / Barrambin, residents have every reason to doubt they’ll ever return all of Mt Coot-tha to the public.”