- Published:
- Sunday 6 March 2022
The Andrews Labor Government is making new grants available to encourage innovative ideas to transform quarries into more parks and community spaces across Victoria.
Minister for Resources Jaala Pulford today announced the Quarry Transformation Grants for quarry operators to begin the groundwork on how current sites can benefit local communities long after production ends.
Some of Victoria’s best-known public spaces, Fitzroy Gardens and Cranbourne Botanic Gardens among them, were once quarries which provided the raw materials to build the suburbs around them.
Thirty years ago, a paddock in the eastern suburbs was turned into a quarry providing vital sand to help build the suburbs of Clarinda and Dingley Village. Fast-forward to today and Karkarook Park in Heatherton is a much-loved space with bike paths, a running park and a fishing spot.
Quarries don’t last forever and these new grants will provide quarry operators financial support to look at the feasibility of turning their space into something the community can enjoy when quarrying ends.
A total of $550,000 is available for four projects across two categories, small quarries and larger operations, with the grants to help fund feasibility studies, design renders or plans for future utility services including power networks and water management services.
Innovation is a key focus for Helping Victoria Grow, the state’s first Extractive Resources Strategy and this includes promoting what can be achieved after quarrying ends.
The record infrastructure investment of the Labor Government’s Big Build is driving growth for the quarry sector across the state and transporting heavy materials is expensive so quarries need to be close to where they are needed most.
Grant applications open on Monday 7 March 2022 and are information is available at earthresources.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Resources Jaala Pulford
“Some of Victoria’s most iconic parks and popular tourist destinations were once quarries and these grants present an opportunity to create more spaces for communities to enjoy.”
“Quarries are essential in securing affordable materials for Victorians, the process of transforming these spaces for community uses will also create jobs in the future.”