Remediation works pave way for future improvements at Quarry Park

Published on 22 May 2024

Council has awarded a contract to complete the second round of capping at Quarry Park to prepare the space for future development to support community use.

These works are required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make the former quarry and landfill safe. A first round of capping focusing on the western and northern sides of Quarry Park, where the mountain bike trails were later built, was completed in 2019. These works also enabled the construction of the Melbourne Korean War Memorial – the first erected anywhere in Australia.

Capping is the traditional method for isolating wastes and contaminants effectively creating a barrier between the existing materials and the ground surface to prevent the possibility of contaminants from previous uses leaching onto the parkland.

This second and final round of capping will involve adding around 50 centimetres of a new top layer of compacted earth over approximately 3.25 hectares in the eastern and southern part of the park, which will be grassed once in place. This is the area backing onto Farnsworth Avenue that sits between the open lawn and Merv Hughes Oval bordering Footscray High School on one side and the bike path on the other.

City of Maribyrnong Mayor, Cr Cuc Lam, said these works will establish suitable ground conditions for future park improvements.

“Quarry Park is a well-loved municipal reserve that we know our community would like to be able to make more use of. By undertaking these critical remediation works, we open the door for further development to support the expansion and extension of activities like walking, biking, recreation and social gatherings our community already enjoys on this space.”

There will be some noise and dust and increased truck movements to and from the site, with the need for controlled or restricted access at times to keep crews and the public safe during the works. Signs will be posted and neighbours advised in advance of any activity.

In conjunction with these works, Council will also be reviewing the Quarry Park Master Plan 2016 with the community early in 2025.

The contract, worth in excess of $2 million, was awarded to Multiworks Australia Pty Ltd who also undertook the first round of capping.

Maribyrnong News

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