Here in Brisbane, we’re fortunate to have native bushland and wonderful natural spaces right on our doorstep. It’s part of what makes our city special. Earlier this year, the Greens kicked off a local proposal to restore Pine Mountain Quarry and transform it into a natural swimming hole for Whites Hill Reserve.
Recently I sent a letter to the community notifying that Brisbane City Council were consulting on the future of the Pine Mountain Quarry site with plans to open the space up to recreation. Submissions have now closed but you can read my submission here.
This is an exciting opportunity to push for beautiful and much needed new public spaces that everyone can enjoy, but it could also open up the reserve to less welcome changes.
Pine Mountain Quarry sits adjacent to Whites Hill Reserve is home to endangered koalas and other native species. Whether it’s from loss of habitat or being struck by vehicles at high speeds, these species need protection.
In recent years we’ve seen proposals in Brisbane which would have handed over sensitive habitat to private tourism and locked out local residents from recreation in nature reserves, like the proposal for a Mt Coot-tha zip-line, or an Olympic Stadium in Victoria Park.
In each of those cases, local Greens representatives and the community have stood together and ensured these spaces were protected in the interests of nature and the community. 