After more than two years onsite, Contact Group is proud to be in the final stages of delivering the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) facility in Taroona — the company’s largest and most technically complex project to date.
Contact Group technicians have delivered an extensive scope of works across this world-class research facility, including lighting and lighting control, power, data and communications, dry fire protection, laboratory gas, security, audio-visual, and high-voltage installation.
The finished building houses teaching labs, a wet lab, and dedicated research facilities that will support the Institute’s critical work — from conserving threatened species like the red hand fish, to monitoring the effects of climate change on our marine environment.
Project Manager Jade Dwyer said the team had done an exceptional job.
“It’s not an easy building to navigate with all the different spaces and services. It’s definitely been the biggest job that Contact’s taken on to date, and for the team to have it to the standard that it is, it’s exceptional,” he said.
Beyond the core electrical and services scope, the team also took on the installation of a gas reticulation system that supplies oxygen directly to the facility’s fish tanks, along with a range of other specialist gases required for research operations.
Contact Group also installed comprehensive atmospheric monitoring systems for the facility’s processing areas, covering oxygen enrichment, ozone detection, and CO2 monitoring.
Laboratory Gas Manager Peter Cousins said it was the largest atmospheric monitoring installation Contact Group had undertaken to date.
“It’s been a great opportunity for the team to work on a site like this on such a variety of different installs – it’s given great insight to our apprentices who’ve been able to see the full lifecycle of the project from start to finish,” he said.
Contact Group’s General Manager Dion Frame said it was an exciting project to be a part of.
“I can tell just walking around and looking at the guys that they’re really excited, and you can tell they’ve got a bit of pride involved in being part of the whole build,” he said.
“It’s great to see our people involved in such a complex and technical facility such as this, and they really enjoy the challenge and working in a team environment. Jade as the project manager, and Sam Beresford, have done a fantastic job with the team, bringing them all together.”
Research facilities like IMAS Taroona play a vital role in protecting Tasmania’s marine environment and advancing our understanding of climate change.
Contact Group extends a huge congratulations to head contractor Vos Group, along with everyone else involved in bringing this project to life. It’s been a genuine team effort, and the result is a facility Tasmania can be proud of for years to come — with special thanks to the technicians onsite, whose skill, dedication, and hard work over the past two-plus years made this achievement possible.
