Projects - 2015

BioSys Consulting had a fantastic year, which kicked off with not only managing the construction the Seawater Faciltiy at Macquaire University, but also design of both the Seawater Filtration and Wastewater Treatment Units at the University of Tasmania (IMAS) Experimental Aquaculture facility.

Macquarie University - 20,000L Seawater Research Facility

From the design stage undertaken in 2014, January 2015 saw foundations laid and construction commenced.  Biosys Consulting worked closely with head contrctors for the project, Akalan Projects, steering numerous trades and engineers through the purpose-built marine research laboratories to deliver functional application and suited materials and construction design. 

In our most technical project to date, the construction brought together the following capabilities for academic staff to enable the broadest capacity for research possible:

• 20kL seawater storage and Pre-filtration annexe
• 10kL aged water storage for freshwater experimentation
• Pre-filtration of seawater for delivery throught the entire facility to all rooms, experimental systems and bench-top sinks.
• 40 square meter Main Seawater Facility consisting of:
  • 5 independant Recirculating Rack Systsems comlete with 5 indivdual operating temps,
  • Micron filtration, biofiltration, UV sterilisation
  • Dual-pump redundancy
  • Autoamted pH and temperature monitoring/BMS logging.
  • CO2 injection (for automated "in-tank" pH manipulation), aeration, 100% O2 provision

• Controlled Temperature Room - capable of +/- 0.5 deg C control
  • 2 Independant Recirculating Rack Systems complete with 10 individual operating temps,
  • Micron filtration, biofiltration, UV sterilisation 
  • Dual-pump redundancy 
  • Autoamted pH and temperature monitoring/BMS logging.
  • CO2 injection (for automated "in-tank" pH manipulation), aeration, 100% O2 provision

• Algal Culture Room - capable of +/- 0.5 deg C control
  • 200L controlled temperature seawater storage capacity
  • 1  micron mechanical filtration
  • UV sterilisation 

University of Tasmania - IMAS - 100,000L Experimental Aquaculture Facility (EAF)

The University of Tasmania (UTAS) Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) identified a need for an Experimental Aquaculture Facility (EAF) to develop new and specialist research capabilities to support the growth and sustainability of the Tasmanian aquaculture industry.

Biosys Consulting were engaged by local hydraulic company, Netco Pums and Equipment, as specialist seawater consultants to design and document the on-site seawater and wastewater treatment plant for the pioneering IMAS EAF. While the requirements were understood conceptually, the detailed design and planning at a scientific level versus the realities of constructing intake and treatment units to deal with the highly fluctuating conditions the ocean-side raw-seawater supply required a pathway of lateral thinking and specialist insights into materials, products and functional application.

Delivery of the project required a multidisciplinary team from the Construction, Engineering and Project Management Fields including Hutchinson Builders, Sparks and Partners Hydraulic Engineers, Netco Pumps & Equipment and Guide, Design and Management to complete the highly-specific Experimental Aquaculture Facility

Located at IMAS's Taroona fisheries and aquaculture research centre, the EAF is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

It features recirculation aquaculture systems, 12 tanks of 7000 litres, 12 tanks of 2500 litres and two stock tanks of 13 000 litres. 

Understandably, this stand-out $6.5 million facility was highly customised to specific experimental requirements, meeting a comprehensive suite of design specifications.

• Experimental fish tank farm comprising a number of fish research tanks, including water recirculating treatment system and associated pipework and sumps
• Demountable building comprising a wet room and other research facilities, biosecure entrance, and supporting amenities such as a feed drying room
• Seawater treatment plant to treat and store intake seawater for the experimental systems with storage capacity of 100kL raw-seawater and a further 100kL of treated (filtered and sterilised) seawater
• Integrated wastewater treatment for experimental discharge for release into an existing outfall to comply to local environmental regulations
• Software control system(s) to allow automatic monitoring and control of individual systems

A modern Experimental Aquaculture Facility (EAF) for directed, commercially-relevant research, is fundamental to ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of these important industries for Tasmania, Australia and internationally – now and into the future.

In partnership with the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, commercial partners and the Tasmanian and Australian Governments, the Experimental Aquaculture Facility (EAF) was opened in October, 2015