Fast facts
- Mt Coot-tha Quarry is 26 hectares on Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) land operating since 1895 and owned by Brisbane City Council (BCC) since 1925.
- It supplies 96% of asphalt aggregate for Brisbane roads according to BCC.
- The Council Neighbourhood Plan indicated the Mt Coot-tha Quarry would close in 2025 with planning for rehabilitation from 2015.
- Lord Mayor pre-election (2022) announcement of $500,000 allocated to Mt Coot-tha and Pine Mountain Quarries rehabilitation to produce public feedback with results published in 2025.
- No Council budget allocation beyond 2024 and no reassurance that the ‘owner’ Council has set aside funds for quarry rehabilitation.
- Mt Coot-tha quarry is under Qld Mining Regulations not Qld Rehabilitation Policy.
- The quarry won’t close until 2031 or 2033 according to the current Lord Mayor (2024).
- Hundreds of community ideas were generated for the quarry rehabilitation from a forum co-hosted by MCPA & MP Michael Berkman, Maiwar in 2019.
- “No guarantee of minimizing environmental pollution, including water contamination, air and dust pollution and negative impacts on the surrounding ecosystems.” Dr C. Unger, Mine Rehabilitation expert.
- Cultural Heritage requires documentation for this area.
- Other examples of rehabilitation programs include Eden Project, Crawick Multiverse, Whangarei NZ, Butchart Gardens Canada & Chelsea Gardens Victoria.
- MCPA’s concerns include commercialisation and privatisation of public land; overcrowding and traffic congestion.