Alan Tudge (Aston, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Youth) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Assistant Minister to the Minister for the Public Service I move:

That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Expansion of the National Sea Simulator at the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science is proposing to expand the National Sea Simulator—SeaSim, as it's known—to meet the forecast increase in demand for research to support the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. SeaSim is a unique research aquarium facility for tropical marine research located near Townsville. It directly supports research into the sustainable use of Australia's tropical marine estate, including coral reef adaptation and resilience strategies for the Great Barrier Reef.

The proposed works include the expansion of experimental spaces and seawater processing systems as well as other site services infrastructure upgrades. The estimated cost of the works is $27.5 million excluding GST, and the works must be referred to, considered by and reported on to both houses of the parliament by the Public Works Committee before work may commence. Subject to parliamentary approval, construction activity is expected to commence in March 2022, with completion expected at the end of 2023. I commend this motion to the House.

Question agreed to.