World leader on climate backs calls to rebuild National Reef Education Centre

As Australia’s national education centre for the Great Barrier Reef in Townsville remains closed, an internationally acclaimed scientist has called on the Federal Government to support Australia’s greatest natural wonder – the Great Barrier Reef.

Professor Tim Flannery says the Townsville aquarium – formerly Reef HQ Aquarium, managed under the Federal Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, has been a global leader in education for the reef for more than three decades.

“This is the national education centre for the Great Barrier Reef and the world’s largest living reef aquarium, it is a showcase of science and provides a connection to the reef for hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and abilities,” Mr Flannery said.

Tim Flannery is an internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer, conservationist, and was 2007 Australian of the Year Professor.

Townsville North Queensland’s peak economic development and tourism management organisation, Townsville Enterprise has been behind the campaign to save Reef HQ following the latest Federal budget announcement which omitted funding to the facility.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said the goal is to secure an additional $100 million dollars to rebuild the facility. “We must remember that it’s not just Townsville’s aquarium; this is the national reef education centre for Australia representing the world’s most well-known reef ecosystem,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.

Since its opening in 1987, Reef HQ has been a global leader in education and tourism, boasting our nation's greatest natural asset - $56B Great Barrier Reef, attracting over 110,000 visitors annually.

“The next generation of Australians deserve this education facility to be reopened, and the timing could not be more important as pressures on the reef continue to grow and education remains to be one of the key
enablers for change,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.

“Our conversations with the federal government are positive, and they clearly understand the significant importance of our national education centre of the Great Barrier Reef – and we hope they find a solution that
means bringing this vital asset back to Townsville and to Australia.”

"At a time when coral bleaching and reef conservation is part of the national and international news cycle; when urgent action should be taken to protect our national treasure - the need for quality expert-led
education intertwined with rich tapestry of Indigenous knowledge of sea country, cannot be underestimated or deferred - generations of children are missing a critical opportunity to be the next wave of reef guardians.”