Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are progressing, with the project set to transform the attraction into a global centre for reef education and conservation.

The Australian government is funding the redevelopment, which will deliver a major upgrade of the aquarium – the official education centre for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

The project will include new visitor experiences, immersive exhibitions, upgraded education facilities and a Centre of Excellence in Tropical Reef Education designed to increase understanding of the Great Barrier Reef and the challenges facing coral ecosystems.

The redevelopment is intended to strengthen Reef HQ's role as a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, supporting tourism while providing visitors with greater access to marine science, conservation work and reef research.

Reef HQ closed in 2021 for refurbishment, with the scale of the project subsequently expanded into a full redevelopment. The attraction is now expected to reopen in 2029.

Government projections suggest the renewed attraction could welcome 4.5 million visitors over the coming decades and generate AU$564 million in economic benefits, while supporting almost 1,400 jobs.

The project forms part of wider investment in the future of the Great Barrier Reef as both a natural asset and visitor destination.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park covers 344,400sq km and is one of the world's largest protected marine environments, attracting millions of visitors each year.