Australian Paper and MainStream Aquaculture in partnership with Latrobe Valley Authority will conduct a $1.24 million feasibility study to construct a state-of-the-art aquaculture facility for farming barramundi in the Latrobe Valley.
MainStream Aquaculture is a vertically integrated producer and supplier of premium barramundi. The company operates the largest aquaculture facility of its type in the world and exports into 24 countries across 5 continents.
As part of the feasibility study, Mainstream Aquaculture and Australian Paper will conduct due diligence on the technical, commercial, social and environmental aspects of the project plus preliminary design and engineering, for the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) plant.
The facility would be located close to Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill and utilise fresh water supplies. Maryvale has complementary infrastructure capacity to supply water-heating, oxygen generation and water treatment services.
If the study proves viability, construction of the facility in the Latrobe Valley could begin by late 2020. The facility could support up to 500 Victorian jobs in the construction phase and around 190 ongoing.
Latrobe Valley Authority provided $800,000 in funding towards the feasibility study which is expected to be finalised by mid-2020.