Tassal Group to invest $183m to expand prawn farm in Queensland

Australian seafood company Tassal Group is planning to invest A$257m ($183m) in Mackay-Whitsunday, Queensland, to establish an aquaculture hub.

The investment is expected to create 1,000 new employment opportunities.

As part of this initiative, Tassal Group will be investing A$85m ($60m) for expanding its Gregory River Prawn Farm in the north of Proserpine, where expansion works are already being carried out.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: “Approvals for Stage 4 expansion of Tassal Group’s existing facility near Proserpine were recently granted meaning construction can now start creating 100 construction jobs and further boosting operational jobs.

“This is part of an A$85m ($60m) programme that demonstrates Tassal Group’s confidence in investing in our State.

The expansion of prawn farm at Proserpine is expected to create 100 new jobs during the Stage 4 construction works, which is expected to be completed in mid-2022.

Once the production at the facility reaches full capacity in August 2022, the Proserpine prawn farm is expected to create 60 new jobs, which will be an addition to the existing workforce of 244 members.

Upon completion of the Proserpine farm expansion, Tassal Group will begin construction of the Exmoor Station Prawn Farm.

During the construction phase, the Exmoor expansion project is expected to create 100 new jobs and 620 operational jobs upon completion.

The Exmoor Station Prawn Farm will be developed within the Mackay aquaculture development area (ADA).

Palaszczuk adds: “In further good news, today I can announce the Coordinator-General has declared Tassal Group’s $172m project at Exmoor Station, north-west of Mackay, a coordinated project, which means a full environmental impact assessment (EIS) of the project can now begin.

“If approved, this project will follow the full development of the Proserpine expansion and would create Queensland’s largest land-based aquaculture facility. Combined, these projects are expected to produce around 10,000 tonnes of prawns per annum from 2026 – doubling the existing prawn aquaculture industry in Queensland.

“That’s A$257m ($183m) investment in North Queensland prawn farming set to create up to 1,000 jobs and has the potential for significant flow-on effects right along the supply chain for businesses across the whole region.”

Tassal Group Supply Chain and Commercial Services head Ben Daley explained that the company is pleased to expand Queensland’s aquaculture industry, creating economic and jobs growth.