Description

Valley Lake is the former site of Niddrie Quarry, which supplied basalt to pave the roads of Melbourne from the 1940s until it was closed in the 1970s. The quarry remained vacant for several decades until a proposal was made in 1996 to use the quarry as a toxic landfill dump. A concerted community campaign to oppose the landfill for health and environmental reasons launched and was ultimately successful. Characterised by its rugged typography, the site is now home to medium-density housing, parkland connected by pedestrian and bike tracks and a couple of Peregrine falcons. 

What's On

Hear from Friends of Steele Creek about the campaign to save Niddrie Lake and their ongoing restoration and stewardship of its landscape. Learn about the challenges and opportunities for the Canopi Valley Lake medium-density master plan from architects Bird de la Coeur and visit the latest addition, the Valley Lake Lookout, with McGregor Coxall to experience the stunning views of the dramatic landscape and hear how the site’s industrial past is represented in its design.

The Valley Lake Precinct and Lookout is open to the public 24/7 for self-guided visits.

In Collaboration With:

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  Friends of Steele Creek

  Friends Of Steele Creek (FOSC) is an independent, not for profit, community organisation devoted to the care and rehabilitation of Steele Creek waterway, its open space corridor and the preservation of its Victorian Volcanic Plains flora and fauna. FOSC provides a practical way for residents to be involved in protecting and restoring Steele Creek and its tributaries, and the implementation of the Steele Creek Linear Park Master Plan.

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  Vanessa Bird | Neil de la Coeur

  Vanessa Bird is an architect is a co-founder of Bird de la Coeur Architects. For over 30 years the practice has specialised in housing, including social housing, and responsible density strategies. Key to each project is the response to the place and the people they serve. Vanessa is a Life Fellow and past Victorian President of the Australian Institute of Architects. 
  
  Neil de la Coeur is a founding Director of Bird de la Coeur Architects and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects. Over his thirty-five year career, Neil has gained extensive experience in urban renewal. His work has won Australian Institute of Architects Awards, and UDIA’s (Urban Design Institute of Australia) National High-Density Award.

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  Chrstian Borchert, McGregor Coxall

  Christian is an internationally experienced, German-educated Architect with over 20 years’ experience delivering public realm projects from large-scale strategic master planning to finely crafted urban spaces. His expertise spans precinct master planning, public realm design, and the successful delivery of complex urban transformations.