CLIENT: Victorian Fisheries Authority
LOCATION: Snobs Creek, VIC
YEAR: 2025
Macquarie Perch Recovery Centre
Project Overview
Fresh By Design completed the design, supply, installation and commissioning of the Macquarie Perch Recovery Centre, a purpose‑built aquaculture facility developed to support captive breeding, incubation and early life‑stage rearing of Macquarie Perch (Macquaria australasica), with additional system capacity for Trout Cod (Maccullochella macquariensis).
The facility was designed around multiple independent recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) to provide operational flexibility, biosecurity control and long‑term maintainability.
System Configuration
The recovery centre comprises four independent recirculating aquaculture systems, each dedicated to a specific functional area:
- RAS 1 & RAS 2 – Broodstock holding systems
- RAS 3 – Macquarie Perch incubator, spawning and fry systems
- RAS 4 – Trout Cod incubator and larval rearing systems
All systems are hydraulically independent, allowing isolation for maintenance, biosecurity management and operational redundancy.
Broodstock Holding Systems (RAS 1 & RAS 2)
The broodstock facility consists of two identical recirculating systems supplying multiple circular tanks. Tanks can be allocated between systems via a common manifold arrangement to support flexible stock management.
Main Process Flow
- Gravity drainage from broodstock tanks
- Mechanical solids removal via drum filtration
- Biological treatment via in‑ground moving bed biofilters (MBBR)
- Temperature control via integrated heat pump systems
- UV disinfection prior to return to culture tanks
Each system includes independent circulation and aeration infrastructure, with duty/standby equipment arrangements to support operational reliability.
Macquarie Perch Incubation, Spawning and Fry System (RAS 3)
The Macquarie Perch production area operates on a dedicated recirculation loop, supplying:
- Circular spawning tanks
- Rectangular fry rearing tanks
- Macdonald‑style incubation jars supplied from a degassing header tank
The system is configured to operate in recirculating or flow‑through modes, with water treatment provided through mechanical filtration, MBBR biofiltration, temperature control and UV sterilisation prior to reuse.
Trout Cod Incubation and Larval Rearing System (RAS 4)
The Trout Cod system combines flow‑through incubation with recirculating larval rearing.
Larval rearing troughs operate on a dedicated RAS incorporating:
- Drum filtration for solids removal
- Biological filtration via MBBR
- Heat pump temperature control
- UV sterilisation prior to water reuse
Overhead services and gravity drainage are used throughout the system to simplify operation, cleaning and maintenance.
Key Equipment and Infrastructure
- Drum filters for primary solids removal
- In‑ground concrete sumps and moving bed biofilters
- Variable‑speed circulation pumps with duty/standby configuration
- UV sterilisation units with bypass manifolds
- Integrated heat pump temperature control
- Centralised monitoring and alarm systems
Project Delivery
The Macquarie Perch Recovery Centre was delivered through close collaboration with project stakeholders, with a focus on clear system separation, operational robustness and long‑term usability. The facility was commissioned with full system documentation and operational handover.