Bathurst duck pond revitalisation

The ‘Duck Pond’ dam features prominently along the ‘Eco Walk’ on Charles Sturt University’s Bathurst campus. A fountain aerator was installed to enhance the bird and aquatic life of the dam. It is both a water feature and supports the health of the aquatic ecosystem.

The dam aerator prevents stratification by mixing oxygen throughout the layers of the water and prevents the water from separating into layers, which have different temperatures and oxygen levels. The aerator also assists with the build-up of sludge on the dam floor from decomposing organic matter, which has the potential to release toxins and nutrients into the water. This could lead to algal blooms, aquatic weed, and aquatic kill. The fountain aerator creates a constant circulation between all levels in the dam, assisting beneficial bacteria in thriving and consuming excessive nutrients floating in the water.

The area’s development is a project undertaken by the Division of Facilities Management on our Bathurst campus. The project team is also working on the introduction of possum boxes with funds secured through a Sustainability Grassroots grant and with the Pollinator Garden project to benefit the ecosystem surrounding the dam.