Australia to shut sub-Antarctic research station

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) said Tuesday it would shut down its Macquarie Island facility at the end of March 2017.

The government agency has continuously operated a year-round research station on the sub-Antarctic island since 1948.

In a statement, the AAD said a recent independent engineering investigation had highlighted growing safety, environmental and ocean inundation risks, and recommended an urgent decision be made about the station's future.

"Withdrawal of a permanent presence will be a further step towards minimizing human impacts on the island," the division said. "This follows the successful Macquarie Island pest eradication program which removed all introduced animals (cats, rabbits, rats and mice)."

A team is expected to be sent to the island in November to start the process of decommissioning station infrastructure.

"All essential equipment and dangerous goods, including station fuel, will be removed by ship, and the buildings secured and closed down," AAD Director Nick Gales said.

'Unique and fragile ecosystem'

Despite the closure, Gales stressed there would still be "opportunities to conduct high priority research" in the future through the use of a network of six field huts and extended ship visits.

Gales also acknowledged that some scientists would be disappointed with the decision, given Macquarie Island's unique and fragile ecosystem, but said the cost of refurbishing the station "could not be justified within existing budgets."

The division would instead focus on its operations on the Antarctic continent where the country has three bases, he added.

Australia is one of around 30 countries, including the US, Russia, Britain and France, operating permanent research stations in Antarctica.

Macquarie Island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that lies in the southwest Pacific Ocean about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. It is part of the Australian state of Tasmania, and the Tasmanian government is responsible for monitoring and protecting the island as a wildlife reserve.

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman said in a statement he was extremely disappointed by the announcement and would raise the issue directly with the federal government.