PDM has been the project initiation team by providing Principal professionals to undertake a range of services in developing the project outcomes. These outcomes are driven by climate change response, sustainability, innovation, renewable energy and energy conservation.AIMS operate a scientific research and training facility at Cape Ferguson on the southern outskirts of Townsville. The Tropical Marine Research Facilities, Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Project is an initiative of the Australian Government under the Super Science Initiative. The funding also supports the Government’s economic stimulus package.

The Project builds on AIMS internationally recognised capabilities in marine biodiversity, water quality and ecosystems health, marine microbiology and symbiosis, and impacts and adaption to climate change. AIMS mission is “to generate and transfer knowledge to support the sustainable use and protection of the marine environment through innovative, world class scientific and technological research”.

The Project consists of the following elements:

• Ocean simulator and seawater enhancements
• Expanded facilities to support growth in Townsville, including a Tropical Marine Collections Facility;
• Implementation of new technologies to reduce energy consumption;
• A vessel berthing and operations facility in Townville; and
• Darwin Coastal Environmental Research Laboratories Expansion.

AIMS is embarking on the construction of a number of new facilities including

• A site wide District Cooling System incorporating a Central Energy Plant. The Central Energy Plant shall house the site wide chilled water system incorporating stratified chilled water thermal energy storage for the entire site.
• North Wing building.
• Research (ATOS) Facility approx 3150m² with nominal 1350m² of controlled environment requiring air-conditioning.
• As well as the existing seawater upgraded pumping and water storage and treatment facilities.
• Second diesel standby generator to support the existing standby generator, both to be wired to the main switchboards to operate in the event of power failure off the main electricity supply from the electricity retailer.