Parts of Footscray’s Quarry Park Reserve have been closed while Maribyrnong council undertakes capping work at the Farnsworth Avenue site.
Capping involves adding additional layers of soil and turf to the existing landscape to manage any contamination from previous use of the land as a quarry.
Quarry Park Reserve sits on the site of a former quarry that was then converted to landfill before ceasing operations in 1988.
The current capping works, which are required by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and were included in the 2016 Quarry Park Master Plan, are expected to take about six months to complete.
The works include the importing and laying of soil, top soil and hydro-seeding, along with the installation of swales and irrigation across approximately 3.25 hectares in the eastern part of the park.
Sections of the reserve have already been fenced off to facilitate any asbestos removal, ground preparation and weed removal.
The mountain bike track and the pump track will remain open during the works, however there are some temporary changes at the base of the mountain bike track and access may be restricted at times.
Access between the top and bottom of Quarry Park is via Farnsworth Avenue or Edgewater Boulevard, while site entry for work vehicles and equipment is planned off Owen Street, where a 10 km/h speed limit is in place.
Signs are in place across the site to keep those using the park informed and safe while the works are underway and a local residents are encouraged to adhere to any signage and instruction from traffic management crews.
