Atherton Tablelands accommodation

The site for this Atherton Tablenads accommodaion was a degraded dairy farm until 1994 when Peta & Jon bought it and began reforesting over 60 acres and now have planted over 20,000 mixed native rainforest trees. Now the endangered Southern Cassowary has returned foraging for fruit dropped by the new plantings. All buildings are constructed of Australian timbers which sequester carbon, sourced from sustainably managed forests. The buildings were sited in degraded weeded areas so no trees were felled in the construction process. No disturbance was made to the land (pole homes require just 12 holes 2 metres deep to anchor them) ie no excavation was used which interferes with natural water flows. All buildings are designed for our tropical environment ie large windows for natural lighting and good ventilation so no airconditioning is needed.

We use energy efficient lighting and appliances. Slow combustion stoves are used the cooler months. We are reducing our consumption of consumables eg purchase in bulk and refill shampoo bottles. Our free range chickens take all the food waste. All treehouses have 3 bins - one large bin for recycles (all bottles, paper, cans), one small one for non-recycables (other plastics) and one small food scraps bin. These are emptied into larger bins and taken to the local shire waste transfer station. We collect all the paper/cardboard waste here and compost it with soil for our gardens. We are using fewer brochures each year. Most marketing is web based eg e-marketing of specials, newsletters, season's greetings. We use recycled paper for all printed matter.

We are members of Birds Australia (national bird conservation group), TREAT -Tree Reforestation for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands (a local group), with donations and in-kind support to them. We often have research scientists conducting research on the property. Currently research is being done on turtles in our streams. We allow rehabilitated animals to be released here e.g. a tree-kangaroo which was hit by a car was released here as its own territory was too dangerous due to traffic. Many town roof possums are released here.

We acknowledge the traditional owners of this land the aboriginal clan, the Mullunburra and support their efforts to retain their culture. The Mullunburra are welcome onto their traditional country any time. We have had a relationship with them for many years. We place their story "The Mullunburra - People of the Mulgrave" as priority reading on all coffee tables in all treehouses and have them for sale at reception. For any large conferences held here we ask the organiser whether they would like a "welcome to country'' from the elders including a traditonal dance. We support them with letters of support for funding applications. Recently they wanted to apply for funding for a bus to help commute their people to their nearby medicine trail, the head of teh Sacred Trail, which they hope to open up to tourists.

We support local not-for-profit groups with fundraising e.g. local schools, kindergarten, sporting groups. We have given birdwatching talks to local students. We train local youth in office administration. Our own book keeper at 45 years of age received her first qualifications ever doing a business administration level 3 on the job here. My husband is a builder and has indentured 45 youths in carpentry apprenticeships in the last 20 years. We purchase most of our needs as locally as we can through the local independent supermarket.