Rockhampton State High new $2.5 million aquaculture facility to be completed by October 2022

Up to 10,000 barramundi will be bred at a Rockhampton high school each year, before being released into the Fitzroy River, as part of a major aquaculture project.

A new $2.5 million aquaculture facility at Rockhampton State High School will allow for 10,000 barramundi to be released into the Fitzroy River catchment each year, as students learn all about aquaculture and become skilled to work in Australia’s fastest growing food industry.

Queensland education minister Grace Grace visited the school on Monday to announce funding for the project.

Aquaculture is the controlled process and farming of aquatic organisms from fish to aquatic plants.

Intervention in the rearing process to enhance production includes regular stocking, feed and protection from predators.

Australia has one of the largest wild capture areas for seafood however the growth rates among species is poor due to the water quality and nutrients in oceans and waterways.

At present, Australia imports 60 per cent consumed seafood and consumption is up by 14 per cent per individual and the seafood industry cannot support the demand – demonstrating the need for aquaculture.

It equates to around $120 million per annum in Queensland.

The new centre at the school will include a recirculated aquaculture system and state-of-the-art education facility focused on research and development.

The facility will have six grow-out tanks which will be able to produce up to 10,000 fish per year.

It will be the first aquaculture facility at a Central Queensland region state school.

What the new $2.5 million aquaculture facility at Rockhampton State High School will look like.

“There is a lot of scope within aquaculture and to have a facility like this, we can do a lot of things with it, whether its creating nutritional research for other species or creating pet stock for local shops,” Agriculture Department head Lachlan Wells said.

The students will be able to handle the fish, collect data, weigh and size them and release them into the Fitzroy River Catchment.

By releasing more fish stocks, it is hoped this will support eradication of pest fish such as tilapia.

“It gives our students another opportunity, another avenue to see what is out there in the workforce, it will give them more skills and more opportunities for jobs out of school,” Mr Wells said.

The new centre is expected to be completed by October 2022. Students have already got a taste for what it will be like, as a prototype breeding red claw was installed recently.

“A lot of kids are young fishermen, since we have had this facility (the prototype) we have had classes down here nearly every day working with the tanks and the red claw and they are really excited with what they can do in 2022 with the larger facility,” Mr Wells said.

The project is part of the state government’s $45 million dollar “local school, local jobs” election commitment.

Rockhampton MP Barry O'Rourke, education minister Grace Grace, assistant education minister and Keppel MP Brittany Lauga, Rockhampton State High School deputy principal Barry Jenkins.

Ms Grace said the centre was focused on providing students with the skills that are lacking in various industries right now.

“We are hearing already there is at least 200 to 500 jobs available in the aquaculture area,” she said.

“We hope to be able to give students first-hand experience and skills, we know these skills can be transferred into industry

“I think this is a really exciting project, you can tell from the teachers that are developing the curriculum, the discussions they are having with universities, there is industry linkages ... this ticks all of the boxes.

“This is about skills, future jobs and careers for our students right here at Rockhampton State High School.”

The facility is being worked into the curriculum at the school through electives, agriculture and science and food and nutrition subjects. A certificate II or III in aquaculture will also become available.

The school has begun discussions with JCU and CQUni to collaborate on studies.

Rockhampton MP Barry O’Rourke said the facility could also be hired as a research hub by other education facilities and private companies.

“We need to look at all those opportunities, maybe it is the other schools coming here and using the facility here,” Mr O’Rourke said.

Keppel MP Brittany Lauga said it was great to see the vision become a reality through the program.

“This program is all about linking industry with our schools to make sure that our students have opportunities for jobs of the future, in the economies they are living and working in,” she said.

“Aquaculture is really fitting selection for Rocky State High, you’ve got other projects across the state including the hydrogen facility at Gladstone, facilities involving aviation, hospitality…. A whole range of facilities we are matching the local economy with our local schools.

“Rocky High is really leading the way.”

Originally published as Rockhampton State High new $2.5 million aquaculture facility to be completed by October 2022