[Australia]: Australian Antarctic Program 2008-09

[Owen]

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AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC PROGRAM 2008-09​

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Objective:	Continue operations of Australia's scientific presence on Macquarie Island and at the Macquarie Island Station. Continue operations at the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Macquarie Island Field Centre. Conduct scientific research on Macquarie Island.
Date:	1 December 2008 - Present
Location:	Macquarie Island (Tasmania)
Status:	Ongoing

ASSETS​

Agency:	Assets:
Australian Antarctic Division​	RSV Aurora Australis 40x Scientists 5x Honda TRX300s 2x John Deere 5055E tractors 8x LARC-Vs 2x Peter Gormly-class barges 3x MBB/Kawasaki BK 117s
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service​	15x Park Rangers 3x Patrol Cars

 

[Owen]

As summer approached the Southern Hemisphere, work was underway to continue the Australian Antarctic Program at the remote island of Macquarie Island, formally apart of the State of Tasmania as a nature reserve administered by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. Australia's presence on the island had been re-established during the 2006-07 season after being absent for nearly a decade. A continuous presence has remained on the island, even through the winter months, with a skeleton crew of at least 20 Australian Antarctic Division scientists and 5 Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service rangers. The RSV Aurora Australis would ensure that supplies were continually brought to the crew from Hobart, the location of the Australian Antarctic Division Headquarters. Certain equipment would have remained permanently stationed on the island: 5 Honda TRX300s, 8 LARC-Vs, 3 ranger patrol cars and 2 John Deere 5055E Tractors, to assist those living on the base with their day-to-day tasks. The RSV Aurora Australis would carry 2 Peter Gormly-class barges and 3 MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 helicopters as part of its complement. To start the 2008-09 season, the RSV Aurora Australis would return to the station with 20 additional scientists and 10 additional park rangers to bring the station back to its full summer complement. It would also have enough essential supplies to see all personnel through the summer season. It would depart Hobart on its 1,542km journey through transit points QE -> QD -> RD.

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