Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I am going to start an aquaponics business where I sell produce to restaurants and build and sell systems to households and businesses. My business proposal has been approved by NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) and I am currently undertaking a Cert IV in Small Business as part of the program. At the end of the six-week course I will have a comprehensive business plan. As part of this plan I need to locate legislation, codes of practice or other regulatory measures which could have an impact on the business. I have tried Googling but there does not seem to be much information in this area. Is anybody able to help me?

Hello Bradford. Good luck with your proposed endeavours.
Food Standards Australia sets out the requirements for the control of food safety hazards during the production, manufacture and handling of food so I think that a reference to these standards would be required.

Try smartlicence also
I would guess that they would have one for your state they have a site here for qld often the requirements are differnt in each state
smartlicence will list all the relevent licences form all the diffferent levels of govt that you would need for your area.

for yu it would be something like
www.smartlicence.act.gov.au

Thanks PLJ this looks like it will be a good place to start. Of course, when I entered 'aquaponics' in the search facility it returned no results, but I can find information about the various vegetables I plan to sell.

Thanks esckay. Unfortunately, there isn't a Smartlicence in the ACT but I did find Australian Buisness Licence and Information Service. (https://ablis.business.gov.au/pages/home.aspx)

Again, I tried searching for 'Aquaponics' and no result but I have rung them and left a message. Hopefully, they'll ring me back!

I'm guessing that the field of Aquaponics is still too new to have specific legislation written for it.

I just realised I posted this in the FAQ section. I didn't mean to, it was just where I was looking before I made the post. Sorry if it's in the wrong place Admin.

Have you already built a system.. that is producing produce... in sufficient quantities to service your market research potential?

What sort of volume of produce ... and sale price....do you estimate is required to at least break even...?

Have your costed, and priced the manufacture of any systems that you aim to sell... and researched any market demand.. and/or sell price points?

Have you done a market analysis.... identified your target market... and competitors?

Have you identified what you will actually grow... costs of production... and lead times...??

Are you aware of the lead time in growing produce???... and/or fish??.... what species will you stock??...

Are you going to attempt to sell your fish?... and if so how???.... your licencing and food safety regulatory requirements will depend on this factor....

You will probably need an aquaculture licence, may need a cool room, a licenced transportion vehicle... pest control plan... possibly even a full HAACP plan...

You need to contact Fisheries for information about licencing requirements... and they may also request a local council approval...

Where will you be locating your production system(s)??... does the LEP.. and/or zoning allow for food production??

If you intend operating from home.... will council allow you to operate as a business... or home based business??

Have you sort.. and/or overcome any possible objections from neighbours??

Have you registered a Business Name.... and/or for GST (or not)?

Have you got sufficient funding to cover the first three months while you gear up production???...

Can you survive on the Neis allowance... and fund any capital expenses... while your production comes on-line???...

Can you survive from drawings from the business.. and still leave enough on-going cash flow... especially after the first six months when any rent assistance and other concessions are cut under Neis???

And then there's the full Section 5 &6 Financials that you'll have to supply as part of your "business plan" before you might actually be assessed as "viable"... and granted the allowance...

P.S. .. my ex girlfriend used to run the Neis courses at ITEC Wollongong, so I've seen the way things work... or at least the way things are done....

Edited : P.P.S ... unless it's changed, or your provider is different... you may not even be issued with a Cert IV.... until you've been approved for the Neis Allowance... and/or operated/reviewed for at least 3 months...

Hi Bradford, I am quite familiar with how the NEIS scheme works here in WA and have been through the process myself. Things will become far clearer as you work through your business plan, and good luck as it can be quite an excercise. In WA the local council are the ones to consult in regard to what can and can't be done from home, also health regulations and building regulations, especially if you want to showcase your systems like I did. Some councils also offer sustainability grants for looking after biodiversity and creating wildlife corridors, depends where you are.
Fisheries wil be able to advise what species you can stock and regulations for selling eg live or processed, this can be quite expensive and if you have not done much in the way of aquaponics it is a good idea to keep it simple and make sure that you know what you are talking about before trying to provide a service if you don't know much about it. There is a lot of discussion around here if you like reading. Good luck.

Thanks Rupert and Faye, you've both given me lots to research.

I am planning on using Koi as they are very hardy and forgiving. I live in Canberra where the climate goes from one extreme to the other, so Koi are good for that. And I really like Koi. You can buy them for around $1.50 and sell them from anywhere from $20-1000 depending on the size, pattern, age, colour etc. But I'm looking at the sale of systems and green stuff as being the money makers. Canberra has more restaurants per capita than anywhere in Australia so I have a big market there. And everyone I speak to has been extremely supportive of my ideas. I already have a few people who want me to install systems for them. I was planning on building systems from IBCs as well as selling plastic and fibreglass systems purchased from suppliers. I would also be able to build greenhouses for customers.

I've been growing in my backyard for the past two years and have learnt a lot in that time. I wouldn't say I know everything but I do have a good knowledge of Aquaponics. I have some money saved that will get me started. I was planning on building a bigger greenhouse at home but I will do some more research on council regulations first. It will be a few months yet before I am ready to sell produce so my first tactic is to sell the systems. I am planning on going to markets with a small system and handing out leaflets at first. I just wish I could start now. NEIS won't allow me to start until I finish the Cert IV.

How are you bradford? How are the plans coming along?

Last visited: Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:12 am
however a quick google reveals:

http://canberraaquaponics.org.au/about/

R.I.P Bradford and his plans.

Think Brad's been holding out on us... https://www.facebook.com/AquaTucker/photos_stream

Things are progressing, albeit slowly. I completed my Business Plan and am now on NEIS! I have built my new greenhouse and am growing Kale to sell at the local markets. Should have my first batch ready by the first weekend in October. I am going to sell it as live pot plants to begin with, so I don't have to worry about a food license just yet. Got my ABN and my business name registered - AquaTucker.

Bradford lives!

Welcome back and congrats on your achievements thus far. AquaTucker has a certain ring to it and your logo (avatar) looks attractive, meaningful and readily identifiable. I assume you have already followed through and registered both aquatucker.com.au and aquatucker.com domain names for your use.

I hope your Kale plants are a big hit in the market place.