Design work on schedule for 2023 start on Scott Base
The final design of the $344 million Scott Base redevelopment is on track to be completed by the end of the year, the project’s director Jon Ager said.
He said construction at PrimePort Timaru is expected to begin in 2023, once planning and design are complete. Ager said the design phase was 75% completed.
‘‘PrimePort is preparing the area and getting services to it (such as power, data, water and sewers) and installing fencing, roads and a surface to build on,’’ Ager said.
‘‘The Scott Base redevelopment project is gearing up for the Antarctic summer and winter seasons ahead.
‘‘One of the project’s main tasks this summer is to clear the site around the existing base, so it’s ready for the earthworks to begin in the 2023/24 summer season,’’ Ager said.
‘‘We are also modifying the existing base to accommodate the larger team that will be required to conduct the work in future seasons.’’
Ager said the new long-term science building installed last season will be commissioned towards the end of this season, allowing the experiments inside the current base to be moved to the new building.
Further geotechnical testing for the Ross Island wind energy system replacement project will also take place at potential turbine locations at Crater Hill, near Scott Base.
‘‘Our environmental monitoring has already started and will continue throughout the project to ensure we meet the gold standard for building in this pristine environment.’’
Ager said Antarctica is the driest, windiest, and coldest place on the planet, and this is the largest project undertaken by Antarctica New Zealand.
‘‘We are building a fully selfsufficient off-the-grid research facility in a very remote and harsh environment,’’ he said
‘‘Designing, building and transporting the new base across the Southern Ocean to Antarctica is an exciting yet challenging task.’’
A challenge Ager has foreseen is the need for all construction in Antarctica to take place between October and March – the Austral summer.
‘‘This means we can only work outside for up to half of the year at best – hence a schedule that is longer than you would expect in New Zealand.’’
‘‘Logistics with such a remote location will always be challenging, and this takes a lot of detailed planning by the team.’’
However, he added that the project is running on schedule with the plan for the new base to be up and running in 2028.
‘‘Recruitment for people to build the new base in Timaru is expected to take place in 2023 and will be led by the main contractor.’’
He said there had been no major changes to the project.
Timaru’s selection as the main build site for the project, a decision announced in November 2021, was described as a ‘‘once in 50-year’’ opportunity by Antarctica NZ chief executive Sarah Williamson.
The results of Antarctica New Zealand’s poll, which asked the country to vote for one of three colour choices for the exterior paint job of the new Scott Base, were released on May 18 with kā kā riki/green the winner.