Supply and Installatiion of Plastic Liners for Grow-out Ponds, Bribie Island

The purpose of the project is to supply and install plastic pond liners constructed of high density polyethylene (HDPE) or a similar material, to the four grow-out ponds at the Bribie Island Research Centre (BIRC). The project also involves removal and disposal of the existing pond liners.

BIRC has the only large seawater aquaculture ponds within Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The replacement of the liners in the grow-out ponds will enable researchers from DAFF and CSIRO and potential lessors from industry to continue to have access to commercial scale ponds for research. The liners are essential at BIRC as the ponds are built on a permeable substrate.

It is essential that replacement of the liners is performed without interruption to planned research activities in the ponds. As a consequence the Offeror must demonstrate a willingness to schedule installation around existing pond research activities.

The existing pond liners are approximately 20 years old and are in poor condition. Their replacement has also been prompted by storm damage inflicted in January 2013. Repair of the damaged liners was considered uneconomical due to their age and the estimated cost.