Quarries As Stadiums

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31375, 22 May 1967, Page 10

Quarries As Stadiums

Investigation of the possibilities of using former quarries as sites for arenatype sports stadiums or swimming pools is suggested to local bodies by the town and country planning branch of the Ministry of Works. The branch, in an illustrated booklet about to be sent to local authorities, also points to the prospects of developing quarries and pits as lakes, outdoor theatres, rifle ranges and for other uses which can take advantage of the unrestored contours.

The example is given of the Mount Smart stadium at Auckland, once a Railways Department quarry. This quarry was begun more than 90 years ago to provide ballast for tracks. Quarrying was done with a plan of having an arena cut to sft to 40ft below the outside ring. The result was a stadium built to Olympic design standards. Other suggestions made include the use of spoil heaps, restored to reasonable contour where necessary, 'for farming, forestry, recreation areas or as building land. Emphasis is laid on planning ahead for restoration of an area after minerals have been extracted.