The Wetlands in Wamboin

The Wetlands in Wamboin

Location: Wamboin, NSW
CE Solution: Specialised Waterproofing Solution
Completion: 2024
Our Project Partner:

• Ardex

 Some backyard projects change a space. This one changed an entire way of living.

In the quiet landscape of Wamboin, Chris set out to transform a tired, green saltwater pool into a place that felt alive, that would blend with the landscape, invite wildlife, and offer a calm escape from demanding workdays.

With the help of CE Construction Solutions, his idea grew into a meticulously built natural pool and wetland system that functions as a true ecosystem. What began as a renovation became a passion project, a sanctuary, and a testament to what’s possible when vision and technical expertise come together.

THE PROJECT:

When Chris’s family purchased the property in July 2022, it came with an original mid-80s saltwater pool. Structurally sound but painfully outdated, the water had taken on a thick green colour over the years, and the bright blue, beach-style tiles felt completely out of place against the natural bush surrounds and the rural home’s warm, earthy stonework façade.

A simple clean-up with chemicals would have been easy.

But easy wasn’t the point. It was about creating a unique space that felt alive, sat naturally within the rural landscape and most importantly, would be ready for the family Christmas party.

“We wanted something that would take care of itself. If we were going to do this, we thought, let’s really do this.”

Natural pools are still uncommon in Canberra, which meant Chris couldn’t simply replicate what others had done. The region’s cooler climate and distinct seasonal changes meant that information from areas where natural pools are more common like Europe and Australia’s northern states wouldn’t work locally. Rather than spend hours researching pools built in completely different environments, he chose to trust his instincts and begin shaping his own concept from scratch.

And so the project began in June 2023 starting with draining and demolition: including a full jackhammer removal of every old tile, chiseled back to the bare concrete shell. Simultaneously, Chris expanded the footprint of the original pool by excavating, forming and pouring an entirely new structure for the wetlands zone. This was a purpose-built addition designed specifically to house the biological filtration system and support the plant and aquatic life.

THE CE SOLUTION:

Once the existing shell was returned to sound concrete and the wetlands addition was complete, the project moved into its next critical phase: selecting a waterproofing system capable of supporting the natural, potable-water ecosystem. For this project, the team at CE developed a high end waterproofing solution with the view to provide a fully integrated approach, one where every layer, from primer through to grout, worked together as a single high performance solution.  A pool like this couldn’t rely on a standard specification. It needed a tailored solution built to last and to give Chris complete confidence that the foundations beneath the water were as carefully considered as the ecosystem above it.

For this project the CE team worked closely with our partners at Ardex Australia. “This was one of the more unique projects I’ve had the chance to work on,” Jonathan Cheal from Ardex says. “You’re not just designing for a swimming pool, you’re designing for something that is essentially alive. The waterproofing system needs to combat negative hydrostatic pressure, mild fluctuations in the pool water chemistry, and the associated factors of large seasonal temperature swings, all while blending into the natural landscape features surrounding the pool. Every part of the pool waterproofing and tiling system matters.”

“If there was ever an issue down the line, this isn’t a pool you can just drain and patch. It needed a tough, reliable system from the start.” said Jack Lenaghan from CE, “That’s why we went with Ardex. They are products that we know and trust, and we knew it would hold up to whatever this pool threw at it.”

Ultimately, even the best specification comes down to how it performs on site. The waterproofing and tiling applicator was hesitant at first, reluctant to swap out his usual products for a full Ardex system. But once he saw how each layer tied together and experienced how smoothly the system installed, he quickly changed his mind. By the end of the job, he was converted, openly praising the Ardex system, telling Chris he’d absolutely use it again.

THE ECOSYSTEM:

With the structural side complete and the pool fully waterproofed, Chris could finally begin creating the heart of the project: the wetlands. Building this zone meant starting from the ground up, laying layers of gravel and substrate over a filtration system to support plant roots and encourage biological activity. Chris hand-selected each log and stone from around the property, placing them with intention to create basking points, sheltered pockets and natural flow paths. When it came to planting, he prioritised species taken from the property’s own dam, already adapted to the climate and conditions, and then supplemented them with carefully chosen native plants from nurseries.

It was meticulous work, and it demanded patience. As Chris says, “You have to love it. It’s like tending a rose garden. A natural pool doesn’t switch on overnight. It settles and matures in its own time.” Chris spent quiet winter afternoons in waders, adjusting rocks, checking plant growth, and warm summer mornings in the shallows, trimming plants, clearing overgrowth. He introduced Murray River Rainbow fish to control mosquitoes and two turtles, Bert and Ernie.

And then, more life arrived all on its own.

Dragonflies and mayflies settled in. Before long, a small colony of Peron’s tree frogs made themselves at home too, not just in the wetlands, but inside the umbrella beside the pool. Each time Chris raises it, he scoops them up and returns them to the water’s edge.

Just in time for the family Christmas party, the wetlands had begun to mature, the water grew clearer and the water took on a natural green-blue. The dividing wall between the swimming zone and the wetlands was designed with a cut-out that redirects leaves and debris back to where the plants and bacteria can break them down. Hidden aeration lines bubble steadily along the walls, keeping oxygen levels high enough for the growing bioload; plants, fish, frogs, turtles, insects, microorganisms and whatever else decides to move in.

Today, the pool has become the calm centre of the property.

Both Chris and his partner work incredibly demanding jobs, and the pool gives them a place to step out of that intensity. “After a long day, it’s the one place where we both actually switch off. No work, no phones, no noise, just the sound of frogs and the water moving.”

While avoiding harsh chemicals was never the main motivation, Chris certainly wasn’t interested in following strict dosing schedules. It was about building something meaningful. He wanted a pool that felt natural, that behaved like a living water garden rather than a blue-tiled box. He laughs that “the only things I add now are sunscreen and fish food,” but the reality is that the system flourishes because he genuinely enjoys the project of caring for it.

Chris is the first to admit that a natural pool is not the easy option, in fact, he often tries to talk people out of building one. Only when they insist half a dozen times does he finally relent and share advice. The truth is, it’s a labour of love that demands constant attention and genuine enjoyment of the process. His attention to detail can be seen in every aspect of the build; the water filtration system and flow design, the placement of plants, the hand-selected logs and rocks taken from the property, and the weekly habits that keep the wetlands thriving.

What began as a pool renovation has become something else entirely. It is a living landscape that grows with the seasons, welcomes wildlife, and feels as though it has always been part of the property. Supported by a waterproofing system designed to endure, it is a space Chris shaped by hand, powered by nature, and kept alive by the quiet passion for the work he’s come to love.