IN the aquarium industry, the Oceanarium is often considered the centrepiece of a world class aquarium.

And the Cairns Aquarium can lay claim to their showpiece Oceanarium being the most modern design in Australia.

This week, construction of the $54m Cairns Aquarium reached a fresh milestone with the installation of the acrylic underwater viewing tunnel; and the acrylic panels that enclose the showpiece 1.7million litre Oceanarium.

Cairns Aquarium General Manager Julie Cullen said she has had the opportunity to escort people through the aquarium during the construction process and there has not been one person who has not marvelled at the design and size of the Oceanarium.

“And it was only a concrete shell at that point. The installation of the acrylic panels completely changes your perspective and opens your mind to the fact that visitors will soon be standing here surrounded by schooling sharks, rays and the stunning fish of the Barrier Reef,” she said.

Cairns Aquarium Senior Curator Ramon Barbosa, who has worked in aquariums around the world, said the Oceanarium will provide visitors with the opportunity to see these amazing sea creatures in extremely close proximity.

“They will also be seen from a perspective that could never be seen without diving on the reef. It is like the reef has been brought into the city centre,” he said.

For the past few weeks’ specialist acrylic installation crews have been onsite installing 40 acrylic panels of differing sizes. There is, however, special significance given to the installation of the complex acrylic components that provide the underwater viewing experience.

Two curved acrylic panels, weighing almost seven tonnes each, were manoeuvred into place to form the 20 metre viewing tunnel that will provide visitors with a 270-degree view of predators of the ocean.

This precision exercise was followed by the installation of two of the largest curved acrylic panels which are three metres high and 8.5 m and 9.5m long respectively. These panels were lifted by crane and delicately lowered though the third level roof void before being installed onto the concrete support rebate.

These panels, when in place, effectively delivered the 360-degree underwater view of the on-site recreated Coral Sea environment – currently known by the construction workers as the “Donut Room” for reasons that become obvious when seen.

 
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