Aquaculture development areas

Local government

• Townsville City Council

Size

• 319ha on 2 land parcels
• Map of the Townsville ADA

Markets and transport

• 35km north of Townsville's central business district.
• 30km north of Townsville airport).
• Next to Bruce Highway (major highway) and North Coast railway line.

Water access

• Potential access to Leichhardt, Sleeper Log and Two Mile creeks or beach access for water intake and discharge (or a combination of both).
• Water from surrounding creeks used to supply aquaculture farms will require assessment for quality and quantity.
• The potential silt built-up in creek mouths will likely need to be managed to ensure ideal water intake.

Potentially impacted areas

• High ecological value waters are located north of the ADA site.
• Located within a coastal management district—any coastal hazard risks may need to be mitigated.
• Located near an existing orchid farm.

Vegetation

• Surrounding areas contain regulated category B—remnant vegetation and small sections of regulated category R—reef-regrowth watercourse vegetation.
• Southern section of site includes regulated category C—high value regrowth vegetation and should be avoided.

Local government

• Whitsunday Regional Council

Size

• 316ha on 1 land parcel
• Map of the Whitsunday ADA

Markets and transport

• 30km north of Bowen's central business district.
• 85km north of the Whitsunday Coast airport.
• Next to the Bruce Highway (major highway) and North Coast railway line.

Water access

• Potential access to Splitters and Plain creeks, or beach access for water intake and discharge (or a combination of both).

Flood risk

• You will need to review and mitigate flood hazards, as this ADA is subject to periodic stormwater flows.

Potentially impacted areas

• You may need approvals to access water at Splitters Creek to the north‑east, due to the nearby Abbott Bay Resources Reserve, although this can be avoided to access seawater.
• It is possible to access seawater from the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, however aquaculture structures near the park’s protected habitats should be kept minimal.
• Located within a coastal management district – any coastal hazard risks may need to be mitigated.

Vegetation

• Surrounding areas seaward of the ADA site contain regulated category B—remnant vegetation.

Local government

• MacKay Regional Council

ADA size

• 2,126ha on 3 land parcels
• Map of the Mackay (Bloomsbury) ADA

Markets and transport

• 70km north of Mackay CBD and 40km south of Proserpine.
• 70km north of Mackay airport and 30km south of Whitsunday Coast airport.
• Near the Bruce Highway (major highway) and North Coast railway line.

Water access

• Potential seawater access to the Dempster and Hervey Creeks for water intake and discharge.
• Water supply may be periodic due to high tidal range in the region.
• Potential seawater access near the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, though this is not recommended for use due to protected habitats nearby.

Potentially impacted areas

• It is possible to access seawater from the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park, however aquaculture structures near the park’s protected habitats should be kept minimal.
• There is a fish habitat area—management B area near Dempster and Hervey Creek.
• Located within a coastal management district—any coastal hazard risks may need to be mitigated.

Vegetation

• There are areas of state environmental significance along the coast and creeks that contain category B— remnant vegetation.

Local government

• Rockhampton Regional Council

Size

• 2,278ha on 14 land parcels
• Map of the Rockhampton ADA

Current use

• The Port Alma rail line separates southern land parcels from the rest of the site.
• The Stanwell to Gladstone Infrastructure Corridor State Development Area runs through the southern part of this ADA.

Markets and transport

• 30km south of Rockhampton's central business district.
• 30km south of Rockhampton airport.
• Next to Bruce Highway (major highway) and North Coast railway line

Water access

• Potential creek access to Casuarina and Inkerman Creeks water intake and discharge.
• Seawater access possible upstream of fish habitat area—management A area in Casuarina Creek.

Aquaculture potential

• The Rockhampton region can support year-round, outdoor pond aquaculture.
• Farms can manage cooler months with heated nursery systems, and targeted outdoor pond culture during warmer months.

Potentially impacted areas

• Partly located within a coastal management district—any coastal hazard risks may need to be mitigated.

Vegetation

• Surrounding regulated category B—remnant vegetation to the east.

Local government

• Rockhampton and Gladstone Regional Councils
• The area east of Raglan Creek is within the Gladstone region.

Size

• 1,430ha on 25 land parcels
• Map of the Rockhampton/Gladstone ADA
• The Port Alma rail line separates southern land parcels from the rest of the site.

Markets and transport

• 45km south of Rockhampton's central business district.
• 50km north-west of Gladstone.
• 45km from Rockhampton or Gladstone airport.
• Next to Bruce Highway (major highway) and North Coast railway line.

Water access

• Potential access to Raglan and Inkerman creeks for water intake and discharge.
• Potential seawater access upstream of fish habitat area—management A area in Casuarina Creek.

Aquaculture potential

• The Rockhampton region can support year-round, outdoor pond aquaculture. Outdoor pond farming of barramundi is possible; however temperature conditions south of Rockhampton may be too cold to successfully farm barramundi or other northern species.
• Farms can manage cooler months with heated nursery systems, and targeted outdoor pond culture during warmer months.

Potentially impacted areas

• North-west sections are partially located within the Protected plants flora survey trigger map.
• Most of this ADA is located within a coastal management district—any coastal hazard risks may need to be mitigated.
• Sections adjacent to the north and south-east of the site include important breeding habitat for the Capricorn yellow chat bird. Aquaculture should avoid any impacts to this habitat.
• Sections of Raglan Creek include high ecological value waters and a fish habitat area—management A. These should not be used for water intake or discharge.
• Water quality and quantity to supply a farm from top of Raglan Creek (upstream of fish habitat area—management A area) or from Inkerman Creek may require assessment.

Vegetation

• Eastern areas of the site are surrounded by regulated category B—remnant vegetation.

Local government

• Gladstone Regional Council

Size

• 579ha on 15 land parcels
• Map of the Gladstone/Calliope River ADA

Markets and transport

• 15km south-west of Gladstone's central business district.
• 10km south-west of Gladstone airport.
• Next to the Bruce Highway (major highway) and Calliope River Road.

Water access

• Potential access to seawater in the Calliope River (fish habitat area—management B area).
• Potential access to the Calliope River and other creeks for water intake and discharge.
• Southern section of this ADA includes easement for the dispersal of wastewater from the adjacent Homeground Villages workforce accommodation.

Aquaculture potential

• Outdoor pond farming of barramundi is possible.
• temperature conditions south of Rockhampton may be too cold to successfully farm barramundi or other northern species.

Potentially impacted areas

• Part of this ADA is located within a coastal management district—any coastal hazard risks may need to be mitigated.
• Sections along Calliope River include wildlife habitats.
• Mount Stowe State Forest is also located north of the ADA site.

Vegetation

• Central section of the ADA site includes regulated vegetation (category C—high value regrowth vegetation) and should be avoided.
• Sections of the site include regulated vegetation (category R—reef-regrowth watercourse vegetation) and border regulated vegetation (category B—remnant vegetation).

Local government

• Hinchinbrook Shire Council

Size

• 498ha on 11 land parcels
• Map of the Hinchinbrook (Macknade) ADA

Markets and transport

• 14km north-east of Ingham's central business district.
• 100km north of Townsville airport.
• Next to the Bruce Highway (major highway) and North Coast railway line.

Water access

• Potential creek or river access to parts of the Seymour River, or beach access for water intake and discharge.

Aquaculture potential

• Consider the existing aquaculture facility's current practices as part of any feasibility assessment.
• Consult with the existing operator about managing water intake and discharge.

Flood risk

• Located within natural hazard areas, including flooding and storm-tide inundation.
• Flood risks may need to be mitigated to avoid or minimise the impact to adjacent properties.
• Sections of certain northern land parcels may not be suitable for land-based marine aquaculture which requires a farm site to be located above the highest astronomical tide (HAT) to prevent flooding.

Potentially impacted areas

• The Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area and fish habitat area—management A are located to the north of the site.
• Water intake and discharge infrastructure should avoid both of these areas.

Vegetation

• Certain land parcels include pockets of regulated vegetation (e.g. category R-GBR riverine and essential wildlife habitats).

Local government

• Hinchinbrook Shire Council

Size

• 1,476ha over 16 land parcels
• Map of the Hinchinbrook (Halifax/Braemeadows) ADA

Markets and transport

• 13km east of Ingham's central business district.
• 100km north of Townsville airport.
• Next to the Bruce Highway (major highway) and the North Coast railway line.

Water access

• Potential access to Victoria or Lagoon creeks, or beach access for water intake and discharge (or a combination of both).

Potential risks

• Located within natural hazard areas, including flooding and storm-tide inundation.
• Sections of certain land parcels may not be suitable for land-based marine aquaculture which requires a farm site to be located above the highest astronomical tide (HAT) to prevent flooding.
• Flood risks may need to be mitigated to avoid or minimise the impact to adjacent properties.

Potentially impacted areas

• Sections of wildlife habitat for endangered or vulnerable species are adjacent to certain land parcels and parts of Victoria Creek.

Vegetation

• Certain land parcels include pockets of regulated vegetation (e.g. category R-GBR riverine and essential wildlife habitats).