The leases cover 20.4 hectares, Two of which are classified under the NSW Shellfish Program for harvest of oysters. The leases have been farmed previously and some have infrastructure.
They offer a good opportunity for Oyster cultivation and business development. The Hawkesbury River is less than an hour's drive to Sydney and seafood marketing infrastructure.
The areas oyster industry currently cultivates QX resistant Sydney rock oysters and triploid Pacific oysters successfully and prospects for Australian Shellfish industry is deemed optimistic.
NSW DPI specifies that any bidder at the auction must hold a current NSW DPI Class A aquaculture permit, or have submitted an application for a Class A aquaculture that has been approved in principle. Possession of a written agreement with a current permit holder to sublet leases will also be accepted. Bidders must have access to a landbased facility.
The auction for the sites takes place at 11.00am on 4 June 2008 at Mooney Mooney Club. 5 Kowan Road, Mooney Mooney NSW 2083. An undisclosed reserve will be placed on the lease package.
For an information package visit the NSW DPI website www.dpi.nsw or contact raelene.atkinson@dpi.nsw.gov.au