BRISBANE, Queensland, Oct. 8 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:
Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew Powell
* The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its election commitment, with shovels in the ground on a new world-class marine wildlife hospital at Sea World.
* The Southern Hemisphere's first facility of its kind will expand marine wildlife rescue and care while also delivering new tourism opportunities.
* After a decade of Labor decline, theCrisafulli Government is delivering $39.6 million for five new and expanded wildlife hospitals across Queensland.
Construction is underway on a new world-class marine wildlife hospital at Sea World, as the Crisafulli Government gets on with delivering its election commitment to build and expand five wildlife hospitals across Queensland.
The new Sea World Foundation Wildlife Hospital on the Gold Coast is expected to open next year, which will bring a major boost to the care and rehabilitation of sick and injured marine wildlife.
The sod-turning milestone marks another step in the Crisafulli Government's $39.6 million commitment to deliver five new and expanded wildlife hospitals across the State.
Purpose-built for rapid rescue and rehabilitation, the new facility will feature specialist equipment to treat larger marine mammals, with vessels docked onsite for rapid deployment.
It will be the first facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and will provide specialist care for dolphins, whales, dugongs, rays, turtles, seabirds, sharks, and other marine wildlife.
The hospital will also give visitors the opportunity to see marine conservation and rehabilitation in action, with millions of people visiting Sea World each year.
After a decade of Labor failing to properly invest in wildlife rescue, the Crisafulli Government is delivering a $39.6 million boost to expand Queensland's wildlife hospital network.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future, creating more opportunities through its bold 20-year tourism strategy, Destination 2045.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the Crisafulli Government was getting on with the job of delivering its five-hospital election commitment.
"We promised Queenslanders five new and expanded wildlife hospitals, and today we are delivering on that promise," Minister Powell said.
"Shovels are in the ground at Sea World, with work underway on a world-class marine wildlife hospital that will give more sick and injured wildlife the specialist care they need.
"After a decade of decline under Labor, Queensland's wildlife hospital network was crying out for investment, and the Crisafulli Government is getting on with fixing it.
"This is a win for wildlife and a win for Queensland, supporting wildlife rehabilitation while creating new education opportunities and showcasing our conservation efforts to millions of visitors each year."
Village Roadshow Group CEO Clark Kirby said Sea World was proud to be working with the Crisafulli Government on the new Sea World Foundation Wildlife Hospital project.
"For more than 30 years, Sea World has been at the forefront of marine rescue and rehabilitation efforts around Australia, and this project will allow our team to have an even greater impact on Australian marine life," Mr Kirby said.
"The state-of-the-art facility will allow our specialised veterinary and marine animal experts to help more animals and educate the millions of guests who visit Sea World on conservation efforts to minimise impacts on the environment.
"We have already rescued hundreds of marine animals this year, ranging from whales, dolphins, dugongs, turtles, seabirds and sea snakes, and with marine wildlife being under more threat than before, this new facility will greatly expand our capabilities."
ENDS
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Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
