An exciting future for IMAS Taroona

The University of Tasmania is transforming the existing Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) site at Taroona into a world-class fisheries and aquaculture research and teaching precinct.

IMAS Taroona is being transformed

The upgrades will strengthen the Institute’s work to conserve threatened species like the red hand fish and Maugean skate, monitor climate change, and help preserve the local marine environment while ensuring sustainable wild capture fisheries and aquaculture industries into the future.

Teaching programs in the areas of fisheries and aquaculture, and marine and resource management will be enabled on-site, providing a real-world learning experience as students work alongside international research leaders in these fields. The site will also house a state-of-the-art aquarium system for the conservation and management of Antarctic krill, which are critical to Southern Ocean ecosystems and food security.

The IMAS Taroona upgrades include:

  • Construction of a new building hosting a teaching lab, wet lab and research facilities enabling IMAS’ research to be integrated with its teaching programs, making them applicable to real-world scenarios
  • Construction of a new krill research aquarium in partnership with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) co-located on-site where world-leading research, conservation and management of Antarctic krill will be conducted
  • Addition of a new site entrance and car park along with other improvements, making the site more welcoming and accessible to students, staff and the community
  • Upgrades to services infrastructure including extending the existing saltwater discharge pipe outlet next to the Taroona Foreshore Track near the IMAS site

Drop-in sessions

We really appreciate the wonderful community conversations so far and invite you to join a scheduled drop-in session where you can hear more about the latest progress and ask any questions you might have.

30 April 2024
1.00pm-2.00pm

Register

30 April 2024
5.30pm-6.30pm

Register

Construction information

While the transformation of IMAS Taroona is underway, there will be increased construction traffic, noise and impacts within proximity of the site. Temporary road and path closures may be required from time to time to prioritise the community’s safety as infrastructure upgrades take place. Please take care if passing through the area, and thank you for your patience and understanding while our contractors work to deliver this project with the least amount of disruption possible.

Contractor activity will occur Monday – Friday between 7am – 6pm with occasional work on a Saturday.

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Site updates

Tree protection zones will be established in early April prior to the commencement of the main construction activity, including a large section of the headland reserve being given back to the community. VOS will begin establishing on site from Monday, 15 April which will involve the installation of fencing, signage and shipping containers before the main construction works begin later this month.

Adrian Easther
Mobile: 0458 325 140
Email: aeasther@vosgroup.com

Frequently asked questions

The Taroona site has hosted a fisheries and aquaculture research centre for more than fifty years. First operated by the Department of Sea Fisheries, it became the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) in 1998, and later became the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS). At the Taroona site, IMAS has conducted critical research that has contributed to our understanding of climate change, preserving and managing the local marine environment and wild capture fisheries, monitoring the sustainable development and impacts of aquaculture, and protecting and conserving threatened species like the red handfish and Maugean skate. Modern, specialised facilities are required to continue this important work, realise the full potential of the expertise on site, and train the marine and fisheries scientists of the future. This is the facility’s first major overhaul since opening in 1970 and will enable IMAS to continue shaping a positive, sustainable future for the planet by increasing its research capability. The improvements are also supporting the delivery of teaching programs on site while making the facility far more accessible and welcoming to all.

The new purpose-built teaching and research facility being delivered through the IMAS Taroona upgrades will enable components of two majors from the Bachelor of Marine and Antarctic Studies to be taught on site (Sustainable Aquaculture and Marine Resource Management), along with two majors from the Master of Marine and Antarctic Studies (Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries Management). The new building will feature contemporary teaching and research training laboratories for studying tropical and temperate species. Students will have unique, real-world learning experiences as they work and study alongside industry partners and international research leaders.

Due to the high-quality aquaculture facilities onsite and the proximity to the River Derwent to access seawater, the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has chosen to co-locate its world-class krill research facility on the Taroona site. Locating the krill facility at the IMAS Taroona site will enable scientists and researchers from both IMAS and AAD to work even more closely towards shared, positive outcomes for the environment. This partnership builds on IMAS’ existing work with AAD and Hobart’s position as the gateway to Antarctica.

Since the DA was approved by Kingborough Council in March 2023 the University has been working closely with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) to finalise the necessary contractual arrangements for the new krill research facility to be built at the IMAS Taroona site. With this activity now complete, Tasmanian firm VOS Construction, which has been awarded the contract for the works, will begin establishing on site from Monday, 15 April before the main construction program is underway in late April.  The work is due to be completed in 2026.

Yes, there will be regular drop-in sessions held at the nearby Taroona Bowls and Community club which community members are invited to attend to learn about the latest progress and ask any questions. The next sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, 30 April between 1pm – 2pm, and 5.30pm – 6.30pm. Alternatively, please email us at Campus.Transformation@utas.edu.au

Nubeena Crescent will remain open and accessible to residents, road users and pedestrians during the works, but from time-to-time there will be temporary impacts, closures and alternative traffic and pedestrian access in the proximity of the IMAS Taroona site for safety reasons. As with all construction projects, there will be varying levels of noise as the upgrades are carried out. Contractors will be working to keep disruptions to a minimum. University and contractor vehicle parking will be located on site with provision for overflow in the nearby football public car park during business hours to avoid any impacts to residential on-street parking. Once construction activity is complete, the new IMAS car park will be made available after hours to residents and users of nearby facilities such as the football club.

The section of the track which runs alongside the IMAS Taroona site will remain open during the works. In the early stages of the site upgrades, contractors will be improving the services infrastructure which is located on the river side of the path that will involve extending the existing saltwater discharge pipe to mitigate flows impacting the shoreline.

The University of Tasmania owns the site.

Native coastal fauna will be planted on the site. Select tree removal will be required to accommodate the development with saplings germinated from seeds harvested from these trees included in the landscape remediation. Tree protection zones will be established in early April prior to the commencement of the main construction activity, including a large section of the headland reserve being given back to the community. In preparation for the upgrades, materials that were no longer required and needed removing from the site were donated to Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary and are being repurposed to help build new animal enclosures.

Since planning and development commenced in 2020, a range of community conversations have been underway, which have been important in shaping the final design produced by Preston Lane Architects.

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