The Whitsunday Coast Airport is the gateway to one of Australia’s most iconic regions. Over 70 beautiful islands are dotted off the coast, attracting some 600,000 visitors annually, most of them keen to see the Great Barrier Reef.
Whitsunday Regional Council commissioned AAT to design, manufacture and install an aquarium in the airport’s arrivals and departures lounge. The concept was simple and thoughtful. The Council wanted the region’s unique marine experiences to be the first and last thing visitors see at the airport on arrival and departure, and to create a more relaxing and enjoyable journey.
The aquarium – part of a larger $15-million terminal upgrade – opened in July 2019. In August 2020, the popular Weekender TV show profiled the aquarium in a segment aired in Channel 7 in Queensland. You can watch it here:
The aquarium features a 10-meter-long FRP Tank containing 30,000 litres of water and over 100 different species. AAT rockwork and theming artists also created 4 tonnes of authentic-looking coral which doubles up as a visual treat for viewers and a non-toxic simulated habitat for the animals.
AAT visits the aquarium almost every day to feed and care for the fish, clean the tank and maintain the AAT Life Support System. These responsibilities are delivered as part of our ongoing Operations and Maintenance Outsourcing Service.
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