Urban planner Mike Day believes the rejuvenation of Mt Coot-tha Quarry should be a project of state significance to produce a legacy for the city. He suggests that the Queensland government could help run an international design competition or call for expressions of interest to gather innovative ideas for the transformation of the quarry. Day stresses the importance of local calibration for any ideas implemented, ensuring they are tailored to the specific setting of the site.
Local residents, as well as politicians like local Greens MP Michael Berkman and lord mayor Adrian Schrinner, agree that the Mount Coot-tha Quarry should be repurposed for new uses. Schrinner envisions the quarry as a potential site for a forested version of the city’s South Bank Parklands and a new tourist attraction. The project aligns with the city’s planning for the 2032 Olympics, with a realistic time frame for completion in place.
Drawing inspiration from successful transformations of quarries in other parts of the world, such as Canada’s Butchart Gardens built on an old limestone quarry, Day highlights the potential of repurposing industrial sites for community benefit. He emphasizes the importance of accessibility and community engagement in the process, suggesting collaborations with Indigenous communities and local artists to celebrate the history and culture of the area.
Given Mount Coot-tha’s Indigenous history as a place of wild honey, there are suggestions to incorporate Indigenous art and heritage into the rejuvenation project. Some propose that the long-awaited First Nations Cultural Centre in Brisbane could find a home at the reimagined Quarry site, providing a meaningful connection to the land’s history and the Turrbal First Nations people who lived there for thousands of years.
While other quarry sites in Australia have been successfully repurposed for mixed housing and parklands, Day sees a unique future for Mount Coot-tha Quarry. Located next to the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, he envisions a complementary extension to the gardens with additional amenities like a conference venue and restaurant. The potential for eco-cabins and other revenue-generating opportunities could help offset the costs of maintaining the gardens and the new quarry site.
Community consultation on the future of Mount Coot-tha Quarry will continue until June 2024 through the Brisbane City Council website, allowing residents and stakeholders to provide input on the project. With the support of various groups and officials, the transformation of the quarry into a vibrant, forested destination with cultural significance and community value could become a reality, leaving a lasting legacy for Brisbane and its visitors.
