Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has completed a massive resupply of Macquarie Island research station following two weeks of intense efforts by RSV Nuyina and station teams.
AAD Strategic Infrastructure Manager Adrian Young said good weather had been the helping hand needed get the job done. 350 tonnes of cargo has been delivered to renovate the station.
Macquarie Island Station (WAP AUS-Ø8) is 74 years old. Buildings will be modified, some decommissioned while field huts will be fixed up. Getting supplies onto the Island is a tricky task.
The overall renovation will include:
-Consolidating the station area and reducing the total number of buildings on the island from the existing 48 buildings
-Renovating core buildings in the station to ensure ongoing year-round operation of station and field-based research activities
-Decommissioning older redundant buildings
-Refurbishing three of the six field huts
-Assessing ways of protecting the station from ocean inundation
-Removing asbestos from all buildings.
More cargo, including new fuel tanks, will need to be delivered in the years ahead. A new Team of expeditioners now has the keys to the Station.
Read more at: Macquarie Island research station modernisation – Australian Antarctic Program (antarctica.gov.au)