Former quarry expected to fetch record price

pcm_admin19/03/2020, 10:51 pm19/03/2020

The former Harkaway Quarry, in Noack Rd, Harkaway, near Berwick, spans 56 hectares. It was first quarried in 1916 and was decommissioned in January 2010. In 2006, the property was sold for $960,000.

Since ceasing operations, the quarry pit has been allowed to fill with water and has effectively become an 80,000m³ lake. In recent years, despite being fenced off, some local residents have complained that the site has been used to dump cars and rubbish.

In 2017, City of Berwick former mayor Syd Pargeter led a push to redevelop the site and transform it into a water park and equestrian track.

Hanson operations manager Murray Butterworth confirmed to Quarry the company owned the land and said “we are now working our way through expressions of interest”.

“It hasn’t been an active quarry for over a decade,” Butterworth said.

After a week on the market, the site has received 20 inquiries, including at least one from Sydney — though most are keeping their cards close to their chests. Barry Plant Berwick sales agent Calum Dabb told news.com.au that there has been a lot of interest in the site and it is expected to fetch a record price for the suburb.

While the massive size of the picturesque allotment is expected to lure developers, a green wedge zone limits it to 8ha subdivisions. Although the lake would need to be remediated, there is also a substantial amount of cleared land. Farmers and even those looking for an ultra-private home site could also pursue the property.

City of Casey city planning manager Keri New said the council has not undertaken any works on the site due to it being owned by Hanson. She added: “There may be some potential for equestrian-related activities, however this is subject to discussions with the current or future owners.”