World class aquarium and sea shelter marine hospital proposed for Anna Bay
Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters at Port Stephens is set for a major expansion. Find out what this includes.
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One of the largest marine aquariums in NSW is set to be built at Port Stephens, offering a world-class facility equipped with a marine hospital.
Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters at Bobs Farm is set for expansion, with a $6 million development proposal before Port Stephens Council to make the move to Anna Bay.
It has secured a site on Jessie Rd, on the corner of Nelson Bay Rd, for an information and education facility, aquarium, souvenir shop and car parking.
The development will include a large outdoor lagoon with six linking pools, a tropical indoor aquarium for the warm climate species, a small cafe and playground.
A family owned business, part owner and zoo keeper Lia Pereira said once the development is approved, they’ll be expanding into a much better facility.
“The aquarium will be really large. It will have lagoons with sandy beaches and the visitors will get to feed the marine life and pat them from the shallows of the lagoon and there’ll be snorkelling,” she said.
“We will have the reception area which will also double as an information centre.”
An expansion has always been on the cards for Irukandji ever since the Pereira family purchased the business in 2014.
“We never intended in staying in the current building because it’s not set up for animals, it’s set up for humans and we’re conservationists, so we wanted to create the best environment for our two to 300 sharks and stingrays we have,” Ms Pereira added.
“We’re giving our species a lot more area and it will be more of an extreme encounter and experience for visitors.”
The project is set to expand in a number of phases over the coming years. One of those phases will include a Sea Shelter Marine life Hospital which will be a much needed addition to Port Stephens for the safe rehabilitation of a number of species including sharks, turtles and sea snakes.
Other phases in the next 10 years will include a jellyfish exhibit, an extreme shark experience and some endangered fresh water species such as Sea Otters and fish.
“This is a phased plans, so it is growing over six to ten years and eventually once we’re finished, we’ll be the largest in NSW,” Ms Pereira said.
“It will be happening very fast the first stage and the following phases will roll out over the next few years.
“It is a very important exciting project and doors are expected to be open before winter 2020.”
The development application with Port Stephens Council is pending determination.
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