Queensland's Liberal National Party opposition is promising to build a world-class natural history museum and aquarium on the banks of the Brisbane River if they win the next election.
LNP leader Tim Nicholls on Sunday pledged work would begin on crafting the $1 billion "once in a generation" science tourism project within 100 days of taking power.
Mr Nicholls says more than 2600 jobs would be created in building the Queensland Academy of Sciences - to be developed through an international design competition like that which saw the creation of the Sydney Opera House in 1956.
It would be developed on the Parmalat industrial site at South Brisbane which is at the southern end of the Kurilpa Bridge and near GOMA (the Gallery of Modern Art).
While negotiations with Parmalat have yet to begin, Mr Nicholls says the project has the support of Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and fits in with their Kurilpa redevelopment masterplan.
"This is an opportunity to revitalise this part of South Bank," he said.
The project - modelled on San Francisco's California Academy of Sciences - is planned to house a natural history museum, aquarium, science displays and research and educational facilities.
"This will be world class," Mr Nicholls said.
"We want this to be a destination like no other and a must-see for tourists across the world.
"Given Queensland is home to the Great Barrier Reef, we want the aquarium to be one of the most advanced of its type."
Treasurer Curtis Pitt criticised the unfunded plans as another LNP "thought bubble".
"The only thing we know so far is Tim Nicholls wants taxpayers to foot the $1 billion bill," he said.
Mr Pitt said the government was already assessing private sector plans for an aquarium at the Queensland Maritime Museum, at the other end of South Bank.
"If the aquarium proposal gets the nod as an MLP (market led proposal) it will be delivered by private proponents - taxpayers won't face a $1 billion bill."
Mr Nicholls dismissed Labor's MLP's, saying they were an "utter joke" because 120 proposals in two and a half years had seen only one - a toll road - approved.
"We have seen nothing from Labor, they don't even talk about it anymore," he said. "This is a complete precinct, this is a vision for all of Brisbane, for all of Queensland."
The next state election is due by May but the minority government has been widely tipped to call the poll for October or November.
