About 1,000 jobs for Queensland’s Mackay and Whitsundays regions are set to be generated from the planned major expansion of Tassal Group’s prawn farm near Proserpine. In addition, the company has also acquired a 7,000-hectare beef property which will be turned into a major aquaculture facility.
“1,000 people in the Mackay and Whitsundays will be employed during the construction and operational stages, which is great news for the local economy and for Queensland.
“The company plans to immediately spend $85 million to continue developing the next two stages at Proserpine and then build on this new property,” Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said.
This project is located within one of the six designated aquaculture development areas (ADAs) that was announced by the Queensland Government early this year to promote as well as encourage job-creating investments such Tassal’s project.
According to Assistant Minister for State Development and Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert, Tassal’s development has also been given Prescribed Project Status that will enable the State’s independent Coordinator-General to assist with progressing the project and gaining approvals from governments.
“It enables the Coordinator-General, in necessary to intervene in the approvals process in a number of ways to ensure timely decision-making for the prescribed project.
“This will be a jobs bonanza for the region and it’ll be fantastic to see these new jobs being advertised and major investment flowing into our beautiful region,” Minister Gilbert said.
For this project, Tassal is committed to boosting the State’s aquaculture industry as well as creating jobs, regional growth and stronger local economies.
“Our expansion at Proserpine and acquisition of Exmoor Station is a cornerstone to achieving Tassal’s ambition of 20,000 tonnes of prawn production each year and will cement Northern Queensland as an Australian sustainable prawn aquaculture hub.
“The demand for sustainable seafood and aquaculture continues to grow in Australia and internationally and is a proud industry that can be further developed in Northern Queensland,” Mr Daley said.
Minister Furner added that this investment from Tassal is great news for the State’s growing aquaculture industry.
“My vision is to make Queensland the aquaculture capital of the world.
“The growing demand for great Queensland seafood means there is more than enough room for a strong, sustainable commercial fishing industry and a strong, growing and sustainable aquaculture industry in our State,” the Minister said.
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Source: Queensland Government; ABC News; Industry Queensland; News.com.au