CLIENT: NSW Department Of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
LOCATION: Gaden, NSW
YEAR: 2026
Fresh By Design is proud to announce that we have been awarded the contract to design and construct the new hatchery systems for NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (NSW Fisheries/NSW DPI) at the Gaden Trout Hatchery.
As part of a $5 million Snowy Hydro funded expansion of the Gaden Trout Hatchery, NSW DPI is delivering a new, world‑class recirculating aquaculture facility designed to safeguard the Snowy Mountains trout industry for the long term. The investment forms a key component of the Snowy 2.0 Recreational Fishing Management Plan, supporting the production of larger, more resilient rainbow and brown trout. The expanded facility will significantly increase hatchery capability, with capacity to produce up to 20 tonnes of trout annually, helping protect recreational fisheries and mitigate risks associated with climate variability and pest species.
The project comprises four x Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), each including 4 × 5,000 L polyethylene circular tanks, providing a modular, repeatable platform for hatchery operations. Each system is designed to deliver stable water quality, operational reliability, and high levels of control across all critical parameters.
Each RAS includes:
· FAIVRE Industrie-Environnement Drum Filter for solids removal
· MBBR biofiltration for nitrification
· Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc Return pumping system
· ULTRAAQUA UV & Ozone Systems UV Sterilization
· Temperature control via Heat Pumps
· Polishing mechanical filtration through an Dryden Aqua AFM media filtration loop
The hatchery systems are further supported by these centralised systems:
· OxyGuard International by Technolab Water quality monitoring and control system
· Arvo-Tec Oy Automatic feeding system
· Aeration supplied by a Sprintex Ltd Turbo jet blower system
Fresh By Design looks forward to working closely with NSW DPI to deliver a robust, efficient, and bio secure hatchery system that supports long‑term performance and operational flexibility at the Gaden facility.