Tasmania Premier Will Hodgman

Antarctic Investment To Unlock New Opportunities For The North West

Victor P Taffa

State Government welcomes the announcement that Ulverstone’s VEC Civil Engineering Pty Ltd has been chosen to design and construct the new Macquarie Island research station, Premier Will Hodgman said.

$50 Million project will support jobs at VEC and provide opportunities for other local businesses on the North West coast.

As the current Macquarie Island station nears the end of its working life, the new research station will be capable of supporting priority science and ensuring a permanent year round presence.

“We are working with the Federal Government to make sure that Tasmania benefits from our long standing connection to Macquarie Island and Antarctica and today’s announcement shows how the Government’s Tasmanian Antarctic Gateway Strategy is working to cement Tasmania as an Antarctic science hub and the premier gateway to Antarctica.”

“Antarctic research is extremely valuable to the economy with over 1,200 Tasmanians directly and indirectly employed, injecting some $180 Million into the local economy each year and it’s fantastic to see the North West benefitting as well.” Premier Hodgman said.