Tropical lake, cafes, public green: Architects PRAX Studio reveals Mt Coot-Tha quarry vision

A South Bank-style lagoon, outdoor cafes, landmark hotel and public space to rival Sydney’s Domain is one of the jaw-dropping submissions to Council after it called for 2032 Olympics legacy project to transform two city quarries.

A South Bank-style lagoon, outdoor cafes, landmark hotel and public space to rival Sydney’s Domain is one of the jaw-dropping submissions to Council after it called for 2032 Olympics legacy project to transform two city quarries.

PRAX Studio, a leading architectural firm behind a swag of projects in the southeast, has released stunning artist’s impressions and video after public consultation closed on ideas to transforming Council’s Mt Coot-Tha and Pine Mountain quarries.

PRAX sprang to public attention in 2022 after releasing another bold concept vision for the now-demolished Toombul Shopping Centre site in the northside.

Its director, Stephen Pratt, said they were inspired by the contours of the Mt Coot-Tha site in Brisbane’s inner-west and surrounding bushland ot create a largely green feel with as little “concrete’’ as possible.

“But it can’t be a financial burden on Council. It has to be commercially viable and self-sustaining like South Bank.

Artist's impression of how the transformed Mt Coot-Tha quarry site could look. Image: PRAX Studio

“So we have included a hotel, food and beverage in rsponse to that.

“It’s a high-level vision, not fully worked out, but I think it fits with the 2032 legacy the Council asked for and the response from them has been positive.’’

Mr Pratt said an important part of their visision was a large public grassed space.

“Brisbane doesn’t have anything like Sydney’s Domain which has been used for big public events (like the annual Tropfest short film festival),’’ he said.

“We also drew inspiration from the First Nations history of the site.

“We thought it was an amazingly rich and poetic context and used this to inform the architectural response.’’

Last November Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced public consultation into how the quarry and another at Pine Mountain in Mt Gravatt East might be transformed as part of Council’s 2032 Olympics legacy push.

Council officers were still combing through the responses but it was expected there would eb more than 650, almost all brief suggestions from residents.

The PRAX concept vision was believed to be by far the most professional and detailed of the proposals.

Artist's impression of how the transformed Mt Coot-Tha quarry site could look. Image: PRAX Studio

“I firmly believe Mt Coot-Tha Quarry can be Brisbane’s next big thing in the years ahead,’’ Mr Schrinner said.

“Once quarrying is over we have a choice to either lock the gate and walk away, or spend a massive amount of time and public money filling a hole that took decades to dig.

“Thankfully, there’s a third option to transform the area into a world-class tourism, environment and public recreation precinct that will be a drawcard for tourists and resident alike.

“The quarry area is twice the size of South Bank Parklands and comes with incredible city views and, as these images show, the area’s potential is limited only by our imagination.’’

Artist's impression of a potential hotel component at the transformed Mt Coot-Tha quarry site. Image: PRAX Studio

The Mount Coot-Tha Protection Alliance (MCPA) said however that any quarry redevelopment should focus on “bridging the enjoyment of experiencing nature at Mt Coot-Tha with the immersive experience of visiting the adjacent botanic gardens’’.

“Restoration of a natural environment that blends in with Mt Coot-Tha Forest and the adjoining botanic gardens should encourage the return of native wildlife and vegetation.

“There should be provision for further expansion of the Botanic Garden Collections.

“MCPA does not see that residential development, tourist accommodation and intrusive mechanical or digital tourist attractions have any role in the quarry precinct.’’

PHOTO GALLERY — SEE ALL 30 IMAGES

It also called for much better parking and public transport for the whole Botanic Gardens complex.

Local Greens councillor Seal Chong Wah said the neighbourhood plan required the quarry to be closed by 2025 but said there was still no timeline or budget for that.

“In the council’s latest budget, even the very phrase ‘planning for quarry transition’ has disappeared,’’ Ms Chong Wah said.

“As it stands, this huge quarry is still blasting, spraying noise and dust on to households and on to some of the most important forests in this city.’’

“Residents feel strongly that they want the rehabilitated quarry to be kept for public open-access space that enhances the Mt Coot-tha natural landscape and compliments the Botanic Gardens.

“But Brisbane certainly needs more places to swim with escalating heatwaves and a lot of community feedback supports water and swimming features, so the sub-tropical waterhole is a wonderful concept.’’

She was strongly opposed to a hotel or a zipline, another option canvassed in PRAX Studio’s concept vision.