Reef HQ begins mammoth task of relocating thousands of fish as it shuts its doors to undergo a two-year $40 million facelift

GALLERY: Staff at Reef HQ will begin rehoming its countless residents today as the aquarium prepares for its $40 million facelift.

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STAFF at Reef HQ will begin rehoming its residents today as the aquarium prepares for its $40 million facelift.

The 33-year-old facility shut its doors yesterday to undergo a two-year refurbishment after securing an extra $13 million of govern­ment funding last year. Reef HQ marketing and media manager Joanna Hurford said the facelift would displace some animals during the different stages of the project.

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“All the animals we are able to relocate into some of our other exhibits that will be active during the closure because not all the exhibits are getting refurbished,” she said.

“So a lot will be rehomed upstairs on the first level and in our coral reef exhibit.”

It is expected to take at least two weeks to relocate all the animals that call the aquarium home as the tanks are decommissioned. The reef’s sea snakes, barramundi, corals, wobbegong, epaulette sharks and anemones will be some of the animals that will be relocated.

Ms Hurford said plans had been made to construct short-term housing at the aquarium.

“We will also look at setting up temporary tanks in our old turtle hospital because we have the facilities there to still maintain water quality,” she said.

“We will have some temporary quarantine and holding facilities in our back of house area.”

Ms Hurford did not rule out transporting some animals to other animal sanctuaries in North Queensland.

Originally published as Reef HQ begins mammoth task of relocating thousands of fish as it shuts its doors to undergo a two-year $40 million facelift