The Tasmanian Government is committed to Hobart becoming the world's top Antarctic gateway city.
This will be underpinned by a new five-year plan released today to help achieve that goal.
The new Tasmanian Antarctic Gateway Strategy 2022-2027 underpins our commitment to this sector, which is already worth $160 million a year to our State.
It is also a sector that directly employs more than 950 people locally and attracts some 7,000 visitor nights of accommodation and hospitality services each year.
Tasmania has a well-earned reputation for excellence in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic science with specialist industry support and this new strategy expands our focus further into technology, trades, logistics and manufacturing.
The Strategy is based on 30 actions across five priority areas:
- Investing in Tasmania's strategic Antarctic gateway infrastructure;
- Building Antarctic community awareness, brand and workforce;
- Growing international engagement and visitation;
- Growing polar innovation, technology and expertise; and
- Facilitating active collaboration and partnerships.
Headline infrastructure priorities include upgrades in the Port of Hobart, establishing the Antarctic and Science Precinct at Macquarie Point, supporting the Hobart Airport Runway Project and investigations into an international ice core facility in Hobart as well as maximising the use of Tasmanian renewable energy by the sector.
Our collaboration priorities include exploring a potential Antarctic Advocate role to grow and support partnerships with other Antarctic nations, and exploring the feasibility of an International Antarctic Office for visiting Antarctic programs and increasing opportunities for women and other underrepresented groups in Antarctic workplaces.
Support will also facilitate the growth of the international Antarctic and Southern Ocean research community in Tasmania and support existing science institutions in their scientific endeavours to seek to attract more Antarctic and Southern Ocean-based conferences, events and tourism opportunities.
The Tasmanian Government is committed to growing the Antarctic sector in Tasmania and through this new strategy cement Hobart's place as the world's most recognised Antarctic gateway, a centre of Antarctic excellence that Tasmanians will be proud of and aspire to be a part of.
The new Tasmanian Antarctic Gateway Strategy 2022-2027 is available on the Antarctic Tasmania website at https://www.antarctic.tas.gov.au
