Whale and marine centre planned for Urangan Marina

The $50 million project will activate further investment in the Urangan Harbour Precinct and include a cafe, restaurant and immersive 3D digital theatre.

The Whale Heritage and Marine Experience Centre would be a "central point for the region's marine experiences and would connect Fraser Island and Butchulla history and culture", according to a report prepared for the councillors.

The Fraser Coast Council has voted in favour of making a whale heritage centre at Urangan Marina a priority project.

The Whale Heritage and Marine Experience Centre would be a “central point for the region’s marine experiences and would connect Fraser Island and Butchulla history and culture”, according to a report prepared for the councillors.

“It would provide the Fraser Coast with the opportunity to ‘own’ the world heritage and marine tourism experience, confirm its place as Australia’s premiere whale watching destination and deliver an all-seasons, world class tourism attraction,” the report read.

“The project has to potential to be transformational for the region, ensuring that the Fraser Coast is able to deliver world class tourism experiences to high value travellers.

The Whale Heritage and Marine Experience Centre would be a “central point for the region's marine experiences and would connect Fraser Island and Butchulla history and culture", according to a report prepared for the councillors.

“The realisation of this project would also have the potential to significantly contribute to and activate further investment in the Urangan Harbour Precinct.”

The centre would include a cafe and restaurant, according to documents submitted to the council.

The project had an estimated value of $50 million.

“The new centre has been defined with a focus on interactive digital technologies as part of the education remit,” the document reads.

“This includes an immersive 3D digital theatre experience for the delivery of seasonal narratives related to the special environmental setting.”

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the council would seek funding from the State Government for the project.

“We’re really asking for the State Government to undertake a review of the Urangan Marina to see how we can get it to the next level,” he said.

Cr Seymour said it would be an asset for students undertaking research and for tourism, with the centre to give people a deeper understanding of the Great Sandy Strait.

“It’s something we want to work together with the university on and the whale watching industry to get the Urangan Marina going,” Cr Seymour said.