An unusual aquaponics project to sustain Groote after mine closure

The 60-year-old GEMCO mine will close in coming years, presenting residents with a fearsome royalties cliff. See how they’re avoiding the drop.

A Top End land council faced with a mining royalties crash is trialling a unique Territory scheme to generate income for its communities.

Andiliakwa Land Council, which represents the 14 clans on Groote, is partnering with the Commonwealth’s Northern Hub to develop an aquaponics system they hope will replace some of the royalties that will be lost when GEMCO’s manganese mine closes.

South32, which owns a 60 per cent stake in GEMCO – Anglo American holds 40 per cent – is expected to close the mine in coming years, although a date for shutdown has not been set.

Anindilyakwa Land Council aquaponics project

Preparing in advance for its eventual shutdown and loss of royalties, Andiliakwa and Northern Hub are developing a project believed to be unique to the Territory.

Aquaponics is an emerging food production technique which shifts from traditional soil-based farming to a water-based cultivation method.

The system will use Groote’s pristine aquatic environment and crystal-clear waters to produce a variety of edibles for cultivation and consumption.

The project will cultivate vegetables and leafy greens alongside freshwater delicacies such as barramundi, cherabin prawns and red claw crayfish.

A cherabin grown at the Anindilyakwa Land Council aquaponics project

The pioneering system is expected to be operational within weeks, with first-year yield reports due in June 2024.

Groote Aqua Aboriginal Corporation aquaculture manager Valentin Thepot said the circular system relied on fish poop.

“In an aquaponic system the ‘waste’ from the fish is a key ingredient to maintain plant health and growth,” he said.

“Instead of feeding just one fish species and having nitrogen waste in your effluent water, which can damage the environment, we work with nature and have complementary species of plants and red claws that clean the water so more healthy foods are produced out of the same amount of feed given to the fish.

Dr Valentin Thepot aquaculture manager at Groote Aqua Aboriginal Corporation

“The result is more healthy food for healthier people without detrimental environmental impacts and minimal freshwater use.”

Anindilyakwa wants the project to strengthen Groote’s economic resilience and autonomy, grow a so-called blue economy – where marine and freshwater environments are conserved and used sustainably for economic purposes – and improve food security.

As well as infrastructure to grow a stable food supply Anindilyakwa want the project to provide skills, investment encourage sustainable development and create a carbon offset economy.

The Northern Hub is funding the project through the Australian government’s future drought fund.

A spokesman for South 32 said the GEMCO mine, which has been on Groote for 60 years, will close, but a date depends on whether additional mining occurs on southern Groote.