Aquaculture development areas

Aquaculture development areas (ADA) are sites identified by the Queensland Government as suitable for land-based marine aquaculture development.

There are currently 8 sites across:

  • Townsville
  • Whitsunday
  • Mackay
  • Rockhampton
  • Gladstone
  • Hinchinbrook.

View all ADAs in Queensland:

Benefits

ADAs are located in coastal areas where marine species can be cultivated in earthen ponds that require access to seawater.

We chose these locations based on:

  • potential for aquaculture farming (e.g. topography, seawater access, and suitable species)
  • environmental sustainability
  • compatibility with existing state, regional and local planning schemes.

This streamlines the site selection process for farmers and investors, while maintaining environmental standards and protected areas.

Any aquaculture development requires approvals before starting operations. Development on some sections of the land may be constrained or require approvals for regulated vegetation.

Site 1: Townsville

This location is suitable for:

  • barramundi
  • marine prawns (black tiger and banana prawns)
  • marine finfish (e.g. cobia, tropical groper and cod, threadfin, snapper, mullet species).

Local government

  • Townsville City Council

Size

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.

Site 2: Whitsunday

This location is suitable for:

  • barramundi
  • marine prawns (black tiger and banana prawns)
  • marine finfish (e.g. cobia, tropical groper and cod, threadfin, snapper, mullet species).

Local government

  • Whitsunday Regional Council

Size

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.

Site 3: Mackay

This location is suitable for:

  • barramundi
  • marine prawns (black tiger and banana prawns)
  • marine finfish (e.g. cobia, tropical groper and cod, threadfin, snapper, mullet species).

Local government

  • MacKay Regional Council

ADA size

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.

Site 4: Rockhampton (Casuarina Creek)

This location is suitable for:

  • barramundi
  • marine prawns (black tiger and banana prawns)
  • marine finfish (e.g. cobia, tropical groper and cod, threadfin, snapper, mullet species).

Local government

  • Rockhampton Regional Council

Size

Current use

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

Vegetation

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

Site 5: Rockhampton (Raglan Creek)

This location is suitable for:

  • barramundi
  • marine prawns (black tiger and banana prawns)
  • marine finfish (e.g. cobia, tropical groper and cod, threadfin, snapper, mullet species).

Local government

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

Size

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.

Site 6: Gladstone

This location is suitable for:

  • marine prawns (black tiger and banana prawns)
  • marine finfish (e.g. cobia, tropical groper and cod, threadfin, snapper, mullet species).

Local government

  • Gladstone Regional Council

Size

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).

Site 7: Hinchinbrook (Macknade)

This location is suitable for:

  • barramundi
  • marine prawns (black tiger and banana prawns)
  • marine finfish (e.g. cobia, tropical groper and cod, threadfin, snapper, mullet species).

Local government

  • Hinchinbrook Shire Council

Size

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

Vegetation

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

Site 8: Hinchinbrook (Halifax and Braemeadows)

This location is suitable for:

  • barramundi
  • marine prawns (black tiger and banana prawns)
  • marine finfish (e.g. cobia, tropical groper and cod, threadfin, snapper, mullet species).

Local government

  • Hinchinbrook Shire Council

Size

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).

Land use

The ADAs are included in the State Planning Policy guideline.

However, the land may still be used for compatible rural purposes that don't prevent aquaculture development, such as:

  • nature conservation
  • sport and recreation
  • solar farms
  • plant nurseries
  • rural or ecotourism
  • combinations of compatible land uses.