Townsville Enterprise reveal new plans for major aquarium, marine science project

A reimagined ReefHQ is now part of a much bigger vision for North Queensland with city leaders gearing up to secure millions in investment for Townsville. See the plan.

New images of the proposed Global Great Barrier Reef Centre of Excellence.

A reimagined ReefHQ is now part of a much bigger vision for North Queensland with city leaders gearing up to secure millions in investment for Townsville.

Townsville Enterprise, Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill and the Port of Townsville have joined forces to champion the Global Great Barrier Reef Centre of Excellence, which has been tipped to be the NASA of the iconic natural wonder.

The leaders hope to secure funding from the federal government to go towards the project, which is expected to cost about $500m.

The project will become an educational, immersive and sustainable experience which fosters greater collaboration among world leading marine science facilities including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University.

The project is the first of three new Townsville Waterfront Precincts, however detail on the other two precincts has not been released.

New images of the proposed Global Great Barrier Reef Centre of Excellence.

The new Great Barrier Reef Aquarium would be the centrepiece of the precinct, making Townsville a world leader in education and marine science for the reef.

The ReefHQ redevelopment was initially expected to cost about $80m, with Herbert MP Phillip Thompson previously promising funding from the Townsville City Deal would go towards the project. The funding was re-purposed from cash initially earmarked for the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct.

New images of the proposed Global Great Barrier Reef Centre of Excellence.

Any city deal funding requires commitment from all three levels of government.

The project has been on the cards for years, with the redevelopment stalled multiple times due to funding.

TEL CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said they had been working behind the scenes on the vision for transforming the waterfront.

“The Great Barrier Reef Aquarium is at the centre of the first phase of this important redevelopment, but it’s more than just the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium,” she said.

Ms Brumme-Smith said they were calling on the federal government to support the “transformative project”.

New images of the proposed Global Great Barrier Reef Centre of Excellence.

Mayor Jenny Hill said the precinct could be the Questacon or NASA of the reef, with its purpose exceeding tourism and economic benefits.

“From school students, to researchers, to those with accessibility challenges, a purpose-built showcase of the Great Barrier Reef that offers our community and visitors a front-facing educational experience to showcase innovation, science and demonstrate how and why the Great Barrier Reef is the best managed reef in the world,” she said.

Port of Townsville CEO Ranee Crosby said the precinct would show the city takes “pride” in environmental leadership for the reef.

“This will be the precinct where science comes together, where collaboration happens, and where the global community is educated about Australia’s greatest natural assets and our management strategies,” she said.

Originally published as Townsville Enterprise reveal new plans for major aquarium, marine science project