1960-1979 | ||
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In 1968, the quarry was considered 'worked out' again and, after negotiations the land use zoning was changed from light industrial to public open space. The planning amendment number was 21968. The first objective of the City of Williamstown Council under the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works guidelines was to make the land reusable. In 1973-4, the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works proposed a grant to be made available to the City of Williamstown under the condition that the land be used as a regional refuse disposal. The site would then be developed as public open space and remain in public ownership. Pavey's Hole operated as a tip from 1975 until around 1982. In 1977, the Johnston Street edge of the area and the south-eastern corner were planted with trees. The former quarries were left with vertical cliff faces and a child of four and a 40-year old mentally disabled man fell to their deaths from the cliffs at the north-western edge in the early 1980s. |
Perimeter fences were erected and the cliffs were terraced, landscaped and planted from the late 1980s. Landscaping throughout the area created micro-climates where a variety of water plants could be established before water levels were raised.
The Eastern hole after quarrying ended Pavey's Hole, which is where the playgrounds are now, and the Arboretum, which was never quarried, were the first areas to be re-developed in the early 1980's. The Arboretum was landscaped and planted by Community Employment workers.
A public meeting to discuss future plans for the quarries | |
