The Queensland government plans to turn rundown buildings on Bribie Island into an aquaculture hub.
The land is part of the Bribie Island Research Centre, an aquaculture research and development facility owned and operated by the department of agriculture and fisheries.
Minister for agricultural industry development and fisheries, Mark Furner, said in the past 12 months, the government had received a number of unsolicited enquiries from both the public and private sectors to use parts of the research centre site for aquaculture.
“We know how popular our seafood products are not only in the burgeoning Asian market, but also in hungry domestic markets down south.
READ: Growing aquaculture production backed by Queensland government
“By supporting new investment in the aquaculture industry, we will see more jobs and more premium seafood being grown right here in Queensland,” said Furner.
The government will run a 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,” said Furner.
Work would shortly start with the Moreton Bay Regional Council to progress the necessary approvals that will be required to advance the project,” he said.
“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,” said Furner.
When finalised, details of the expression of interest process will be available on the department of agriculture and fisheries website.