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Antarctica NZ is proposing to strip back its plans for the redevelopment of Scott Base, after it failed to reach an agreement with the preferred builder last year.
Scott Base was first opened in 1957 and hosts scientist conducting research year round.
The redevelopment project had an original budget of just under $500 million. A working group appointed by Antarctica NZ has offered the board five options to be taken further. According to the redacted report released to Nine to Noon under the Official Information Act, the first recommendation is to cut the project from three buildings to two, and repurpose the recently upgraded Hillary Field Centre.
Dr Alan Hemmings is adjunct professor at the University of Canterbury's Antarctic research centre, Gateway Antarctica.
The original design for the Scott Base redevelopment. Photo: Antarctica New Zealand