Upgrading Australia’s Antarctic stations

The Australian Government will invest more than $450 million over the next ten years to upgrade Australia’s Antarctic research stations and supporting infrastructure.

The funding is additional to recently announced investments in new shipping, aviation and inland transport capabilities, and a new sub-Antarctic research station at Macquarie Island.

The last time a major renewal program was undertaken at Mawson, Casey and Davis research stations was in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Priorities for the upgrade program include:

  • modernising fuel storage, water supplies, energy provision, and communication technology;
  • upgrading the heavy vehicles and mobile equipment that maintain our daily operations;
  • providing Antarctic doctors with access to cutting-edge medical technology;
  • enhancing the environmental sustainability of Australia’s research stations;
  • improving operational assets such as boats, field huts, and aerodromes; and
  • providing new science equipment to support leading-edge research and development.

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