[Australia]: Australian Antarctic Program 1999-2000

[Owen]

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AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC PROGRAM 1999-2000​

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Objective:	Re-establish Australia's scientific presence on Macquarie Island
Date:	1 November 1999 - Present
Location:	Macquarie Island (Tasmania)
Status:	Ongoing

ASSETS​

Agency:	Assets:
Australian Antarctic Division​	RSV Aurora Australis 40x Scientists 5x Honda TRX300s 8x LARC-Vs 2x Peter Gormly-class Barges 3x Eurocopter AS350 Squirrels
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service​	12x Park Rangers 4x Patrol Cars

 

[Owen]

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At Princes Wharf in Hobart, the RSV Aurora Australis would be prepared for its expedition. Onboard would be two Peter Gormly-class Barges and three Eurocopter Squirrels as apart of the complement of the ship. Also onboard in cargo form would be five Honda TRX300s and eight LARC-Vs, these would be transported to Macquarie Island to be permanently based. There would be 40 scientists onboard as passengers. 20 of those would be permanently based at Macquarie Island throughout the winter period whereas the other 20 would finish up at the end of the summer before heading back to Hobart. Also onboard would be twelve Park Rangers and four 4WD patrol cars of the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. They would form the basis of the Macquarie Island Field Centre to be permanently based on the island. As the island is a Tasmanian Nature Reserve, the transport of these elements was part of the agreement between the Federal and Tasmanian Governments. Once the ship was loaded up it would depart Hobart, heading out along the Derwent River, past South Arm and Bruny Island and into the Southern Ocean. It would take transit route QE -> QD -> RD.

 

[Connor]

Naturally given the extremely high amount of tension in respect to Swedish overseas territory in the southern hemisphere over the last year the Department of Defence in conjunction with necessary associated cabinet departments have been tasked with intelligence gathering, analysis and projections in-line with the expectations of the current terror threat level determined by the National Security Office. At present the current threat to Swedish overseas territory from international terrorism is marked at 'severe', the second highest level on the scale. The Department of Defence in particular has been monitoring the Antarctic region for some time not only due to infrastructure changes made by the Swedish Armed Forces which are of substantial importance to national security but also due to the registered and very public interest of territorial claims nullified by the Global Assembly Resolution on Antarctica.

Given that Australia has already contacted the Department of Antarctic Affairs to express their interest in the former Australian Antarctic Territory and a number of, what are perceived by the Swedish to be, subliminal threats have been made; the news of the Australian Antarctic Program 1999-2000 is of larger concern. The information present is quickly raised to the necessary assessment stages before landing on the desk of the Secretary of Defence.

An aide, merely shifting paperwork between offices, would place the pile onto the desk of the secretary as part of his morning briefing. The folder was printed with 'Operation Collinsvale' - the given name to the operation for referral internally.

In time, after several lengthy phone calls between various senior ranking officials within the department, the decision was made to further mobilise assets as part of the ongoing Operation Sanbornite in conjunction with a full review of the operations deployed assets given a recent substantial re-structuring of the Swedish Royal Navy. At this stage the decision was made for no contact to be made with the Australians.

Monitoring of this operation would continue by the Department of Defence, in secrecy.

Owen

 

[Owen]

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The RSV Aurora Australis would have made its trip across the Southern Ocean to Macquarie Island. Once it approached the northern tip of Macquarie Island (North Head), it would anchor nearby. From there, the two Peter Gormly barges would begin transporting equipment across to the beach just south of Macquarie Island Station. This would include the 8 LARC-Vs, the 5 Honda TRX300s and the 4 Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service patrol cars. The 40 Scientists and 12 Park Rangers would begin ferrying across in Eurocopter Squirrels from the Aurora. Once they landed on the old heliports they would make their way up to the abandoned station. They would inspect the buildings, it would appear many would need some TLC but apart of that they were relatively untouched. Scientists and Rangers would already get to work and inspect a nearby Elephant Seal colony on the beach. There would also be noticeable bird populations such as the Macquaire Island Shag, Sooty Albatross, Wandering Albatross and Royal Penguins nearby around the northern end of the island.

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Once all the equipment and personnel were unloaded and the Squirrels and Barges returned, the crew of the RSV Aurora Australis would unanchor and circle around the 30km long and 5km wide island to inspect the rest of its coastline to make sure it hasn't had any unwanted visitors. The island would be officially back under the civilian control of the Australian Antarctic Division and the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. The scientists and rangers would begin settling into their new home, for 20 scientists it was only a 4 month deployment but for the other 20 and the park rangers it was a 12 month to 2 year deployment. They would continuously get supplies from the RSV Aurora Australis who would make trips back and forth from Hobart.

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As RSV Aurora Australis made its way down the east coast of the island it would notice a massive 60,000+ King Penguin colony amassing at Lusitania Bay. It would radio this back to Macquarie Island Station so the scientists and rangers could check it out. A small expedition would make the 20km journey south in LARC-Vs to inspect.

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