Townsville community voices appeal to Prime Minister to save ReefHQ aquarium

What does a retired radio host, a lobbyist, and former fundraisers have in common? Well, they all want the Prime Minister to act on Reef HQ.

The ReefHQ aquarium project can go ahead if the federal government can tap into its $9.3bn surplus to fund the project.

The $100m project was overlooked in the federal budget which former business owners consider to be unfair considering their efforts to raise the initial capital to start it up almost 40 years ago.

The project has more than 6500 signatures in an online petition to support it and put pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to back it.

Long-running radio presenter Steve ‘Pricey’ Price enthusiastically stepped out of retirement to urge the government to throw in $100m for the project, because of its long-running significance to marine education.

In his trademark style of flamboyant shirt and fluoro yellow crocs, Price joined advocacy group Townsville Enterprise Limited, former business leaders and Acting Townsville Mayor Paul Jacob at the site in Flinders St on Monday in a bid to fight for the project.

Richard Ferry, Steve Price and Colin Harkness outside Reef HQ which remains closed. Picture: Shae Beplate.

He believed it possible to gain the $100m because politicians genuinely did think beyond four year election cycles and considered next generational projects.

“We talk about the future of the reef, there’s no better than ReefHQ,” Price said.

“We talk about the education of the kids, there’s no better than ReefHQ.

Claudia Brumme-Smith, CEO of Townsville Enterprise, Steve Price and Acting Mayor Paul Jacob seek $100m in federal government funding for the project. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“So this $100m, I think it should be more because it is an investment in our future and an investment in the future of our reef so we understand it too.

“You’ve got scientists in their underwater gear talking to kids all over the world explaining hands on.

“That’s the way to really learn.”

Steve Price and Claudia Brumme-Smith, CEO of Townsville Enterprise, outside Reef HQ which remains closed. Price shows an advertisement where he held a radio show at the aquarium in 1994. Picture: Shae Beplate.

TEL chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said ReefHQ initially opened in June, 1987, and that it was only made possible because of the business community’s contributions.

Ms Brumme-Smith was trying to arrange a meeting with the Prime Minister and that she understood he could be visiting the region soon.

She said the government could fund the project either through its budget surplus, or through funding streams within the scope of cultural activities or Great Barrier Reef funding.

“And let’s face it, it’s been a three year journey, they had time to find the money, that time is now.

“We’re heading into a federal election early next year, we want to see the funding … ultimately right now we have nothing and that’s disappointing for our community.”

North Queensland Senator Nita Green, the government’s Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, said she was advocating to find a funding solution to be found to fund ReefHQ.

“Ultimately the Reef Authority is responsible for delivering and managing ReefHQ and a decision about design and cost will be a matter for them, but I am hopeful of a positive solution,” she said.

“Our government is focused on easing the cost of living and putting pressure on inflation, that’s why our budget was responsible and restrained.

“While we are working hard to support programs that directly protect the reef itself, I do acknowledge the educational role ReefHQ plays for our community.”

Former fundraising committee member Colin Harkness said there were 100 contributors within the Townsville community that raised money in 1985 for the aquarium.

“We went around and we’d gone off and did all the work with a great team of people and got all the money together and raised over a $1m of Townsville people’s money in there.

“I was one, I don’t recall ever getting contacted by the government saying they were going to pull it down, so my money’s still in there.

“I’m sure the government doesn’t know that because governments come and go and they don’t realise what really happened.”

‘We must save it’: Pricey joins bid to revive Reef HQ

Retired radio legend Steve ‘Pricey’ Price has come out swinging to save Townsville’s Reef HQ Aquarium.

Pricey, who spent more than 50 years on air over his career, said he could recall exactly when the aquarium opened and its significance to not only Townsville and North Queensland, but also the world.

“This glorious time machine of reef evolution and protection cannot be lost to us, more so to our future,” he said.

“This is not a goldfish bowl to admire because it’s pretty, this has to be the greatest reef education in the world.”

Following the opening of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authorities National Education Centre on June 24, 1987, the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium became a world-class education facility, a globally recognised tourism attraction and an important scientific and research centre.

Steve ‘Pricey’ Price, the retired radio veteran who spent more than 50 years on air over his career, recalls the moment that the Aquarium opened, and its significance to not just the Townsville community – but the world. Picture: Shae Beplate

Some 37 years on and more than four million visitors later, the entire facility is demolished and at risk of permanent closure due to a government funding shortfall.

Pricey said everyone, including children, had the “right to see, learn and marvel at our great reef to see exactly why we must save it”.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith at empty site of the proposed new aquarium in Flinders Street. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Not on a screen, not in a book, it must be experienced as it is, alive, colourful, evolving … that’s what Reef HQ was: The most wonderful education to kids all over the world, no other facility does this,” he said.

“This world within a world can be enjoyed for all abilities, the night reef life, the different species from mangroves to the outer reef for all to enjoy and learn. The only home is the Reef World of Townsville. For our future.”

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said the goal was to secure an additional $100m dollars to rebuild this facility.

“We must remember that it’s not just Townsville’s aquarium; this is the national reef education centre for Australia representing the world’s most well-known reef ecosystem; a facility that is owned by the federal government – who needs to take responsibility for reopening it,” she said.

A disabled child before a dive at Reef HQ before its closure. Picture: Darren Hilder

“The next generation of Australians deserve this education facility to be reopened, and the timing could not be more important as pressures on the reef continue to grow and education remains to be one of the key enablers for change.”

Ms Brumme-Smith said the funding shortfall came at a time when “urgent action should be taken to protect our national treasure”.

“The need for quality expert-led education intertwined with the rich tapestry of Indigenous knowledge of sea country cannot be underestimated or deferred – generations of children are missing a critical opportunity to be the next wave of reef guardians.”

A petition to save the Reef HQ Aquarium has so far gathered more than 6000 signatures.

Originally published as Townsville community voices appeal to Prime Minister to save ReefHQ aquarium