Bathurst councillor John Fry has put out a proposal for hospitality businesses to trial a series of sustainable wicking beds to promote plant growth in the CBD.
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Cr Fry is calling for the adoption of Australian-made water wicking systems to be installed in the CBD to allow for a creative approach to plant growth through the re-purposing of compost.
"This system will enable us to green the CBD, lessen the amount of compost in landfill and grow plants that rely on less water," he said.
"As Bathurst grows and the summers get hotter, we really need to tackle the issue of water management, and this system could be an effective, inexpensive method to cool down the CBD."
Cr Fry said the design of the wicking systems help diffuse key issues surrounding the use of compost.
"A key criticism of compost is how it attracts flies and rodents, but these systems are vermin-proof," he said.
"There's plenty of interest among local cafe owners, as these systems will provide a more practical solution for food waste."
The wicking systems are designed by WaterUps, and director of enterprise and business development Bob Stevenson said the systems have achieved positive results across the country.
"Our systems save up to 80 per cent of the water used on plants and once it pools in the cells, the garden bed is self-sufficient for up to a month," Mr Stevenson said.
A key endorser of the WaterUps wicking systems is Sydney's Michael Mobbs, who has gained significant media attention over the years for his 'off-grid' home in the inner city.
"The wicking system turns 40 kilograms of food waste into soil every couple of weeks and it has taken composting from the dark corners of the garden to the main streets," Mr Mobbs said.
"I see this as a real opportunity to bring life, coolness and water savings to the streets of Bathurst."
Mr Mobbs and his family have lived 'off-grid' since 1996, relying on waste water recycling, rainwater and a solar-powered battery system, and he spends less than $300 a year on energy and water bills.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
