Plan to turn Bribie Island eyesore into aquaculture hub

The Palaszczuk Government has today announced a plan to turn rundown buildings on Bribie Island into an innovative world-leading aquaculture hub.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said aquaculture was a rapidly growing industry in Queensland.

“Since I became Minister last year, I have made it my mission to actively seek opportunities to grow the aquaculture industry in Queensland,” Mr Furner said.

“We know how popular our seafood products are not only in the burgeoning Asian market, but also in hungry domestic markets down south.

“By supporting new investment in the aquaculture industry, we will see more jobs and more premium seafood being grown right here in Queensland.

Mr Furner said the land is part of the Bribie Island Research Centre (BIRC), an aquaculture research and development facility owned and operated by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).

“Over the past 12 months, we have received a number of unsolicited enquiries from both the public and private sectors to use parts of the Bribie Island Research Centre (BIRC) site for aquaculture.

“As a result, my department will run an open, public process seeking expressions of interest from interested parties to use the land for aquaculture and related purposes, once all relevant approvals have been obtained.”

“The site was decommissioned in November 2009 and has since fallen into disrepair.

“The rejuvenation of this site will provide a rare opportunity to invest in Queensland’s growing aquaculture industry which currently is worth an estimated $125 million to the Queensland economy.

“A new aquaculture venture would align perfectly with the research and development work currently undertaken at BIRC by DAF, CSIRO and the Sunshine Coast University.”

Mr Furner said work would shortly start with the Moreton Bay Regional Council to progress the necessary approvals that will be required to advance the project.

“There is significant community interest in the future use of the land and the expression of interest process will allow us to identify the outcome that maximises the benefit to the aquaculture industry and the local and Queensland economies.

“It is anticipated that an aquaculture development option will provide significant economic development and job opportunities during both the construction phase and once the enterprise becomes operational.

“When finalised, details of the expression of interest process will be publicly available on the DAF website – www.daf.qld.gov.au .”

Media: Brock Taylor – 0427 018 178