Downer secures iconic sub-Antarctic project

11/07/2018

Downer’s Tasmanian-based VEC business will be trading Tasmanian devils for king penguins at its new worksite on Macquarie Island once construction commences at its new project.

VEC has been selected as the preferred Managing Contractor to manage the construction of the new Macquarie Island research station for the Department of the Environment and Energy's Australian Antarctic Division.

Macquarie Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and lies in the southwest Pacific Ocean, about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica.

“We are pleased to be selected as the preferred Managing Contractor to deliver the design and construction of the new research station on Macquarie Island,” said Lincoln Bromwich, General Manager, VEC.

“The important work we will undertake on this iconic project will see a modern, flexible and functional facility delivered to meet the long-term needs of the Australian Antarctic Program.”

Macquarie Island's current research station was built in 1948.

The primary focus of the new construction will be to minimise the station’s size, simplify and reduce long-term station maintenance and, where feasible, incorporate new technologies that allow for system improvements, including automation. Existing buildings that are not required will be decommissioned with the number of buildings reduced and consolidated from 48 to less than 10. At the same time the island’s network of field huts will be updated with the construction of three new huts and the refurbishment of three existing huts.

The construction of the new research station is expected to be completed in 2022.

_{RS41233 Aerial of Macquarie Island with Aurora Australis © Richard Youd/Australian Antarctic Division}

_{RS9158 King penguin colony at Macquarie Island © Kerry Steinberner/Australian Antarctic Division}

More about Macquarie Island Research Station

The station is currently home to 14 expeditioners over winter and up to 40 in summer. It is an important location for scientific research including monitoring southern hemisphere weather and climate.

Read more about Macquarie Island here and more about the project here.

For supply and contracting opportunities, please email macislandinfo@vec.com.au