The Mid Macquarie Landcare project manager was initially presented with the idea by Aqualife Industries CEO, Ian Campbell, at the Burrendong Classic in 2017.

The project – valued at around $35,000 – has since commenced construction at the Scout grounds in Wellington through a Work for the Dole program. It involves the installation of two 5000 litre tanks, 20 square metres of grow bed, and filtration elements including biological filters and swell separators. 

Ian explained the system is a combination of two technologies – aquaculture, meaning fish farming; and hydroponics, meaning the growth of plants in water. It was confirmed the first species of fish to be used will be Koi Carp. 

“The fish feces comes out in a form that plants can’t take up, it is converted to Nitrite, the bacteria converts it to Nitrate which means it’s easier absorbed by plants – it’s called the Nitrification Cycle,” Ian said.

“The plants then suck out the Nitrates from the water and make it nice and clean, put it back into the fish tank and the fish will grow.”

While the system provides numerous beneficial aspects, Ian said the short-term benefits are reducing water and the carbon footprint.

“We’re getting less and less productive soils, so it’s taking the pressure off soils and roads as well as a land component,” he said.

“It is also looking after the marine environment in rural Australia, putting less pressure on natural resources, providing biodiversity.” 

Landcare will use the opportunity to host classes on how residents can run smaller systems in their own backyard, how to grow simple food and vegetables, process excess foods, and how to feed the family for less; as well as supplying produce to local outlets such as cafes.

“We live on the driest continent on Earth and we cannot keep using water the way we’re using water,” she said.

“One of the biggest issues in rural Australia is getting fresh product, so that’s where these aquaponic systems are coming into play.

“Locals have an opportunity to learn new skills and to get fresh product.” 

Deb said the aquaponic set-up is an all-round win for Wellington and will further boost the town’s current community garden which was established around six years ago.

“The win for Wellington is people can have this in their yard, they can grow their own protein and vegetables at a minimal cost,” she said.

“They’re not using the water for their veggie gardens like they normally would, it’s fresh, no chemicals, no pesticides, nothing, it’s all organically grown.

“It’s nature doing it’s thing.”