Gold Coast hinterland accommodation, QLD, Australia

The accommodation has been operating for 15 years with only positive environmental impacts. We choose to actively protect and preserve the wilderness experience we offer. We self-limit the visitor numbers in the buildings and camping grounds. This year the campground was closed for 3 weeks until rain was received to minimize impact on the grass coverage and protect underlying soil structure.

Our environmental and management procedures include biodiversity conservation, water conservation, treatment of waste water and effluent, noise and waste minimization, land management following Land for Wildlife principles, a complete Property Management and Conservation Plan, and we conduct a daily walk to monitor changes.

The lodge is sited on a 30-acre property that has been used for more than 100 years as an intensively grazed cattle property. Since the lodge's inception 16 years ago, the degraded cattle property has been rehabilitated and replanted with native trees and shrubs. The native gardens around the buildings are an extension to the planned wildlife corridors and revegetated gullies found on the property that directly link the guest’s accommodation to the National Park and creek. Weeds are periodically controlled, and there are no significant weed infestations on the property. One of the Homestead is the original settler farmhouse. Additional buildings have been recycled from other local sites. The amenities block is the only building that has been newly constructed. Permaculture principles of using local products rather than importing them are in place. This minimizes weeds and diseases. No erosion is present on the property. Good groundcover is kept at all times and high profile mowing is restricted to building surrounds and camping only. Well maintained access roads with defined edges are present. No footpaths or other modifications are necessary

We choose to use the local businesses to supply our fuel, postal services, firewood, and convenience item needs, as this keeps local businesses at Rathdowney viable, and they continue to be a source of referral to our business. We support the local school community by the provision of fundraising prizes. We give employment preference to residents of the Boonah-Beaudesert area to support local employment, and all our current staff are from within this area.

The ecotourism product is visually compatible with the style of building common to the local area. There is minimal visual impact due to the mature native gardens, green colourbond roofs, and heritage colour paint on buildings. The buildings are arranged such that they aren’t visible to each other when on the mountain facing veranda, and guests have the sense their stay is exclusive. The traditional architecture of the Queenslander and forestry style cabins retains ecotourism principles of natural lighting and cooling. Building heating is optional with wood fired heating, which has an included donation to Greenfleet to offset carbon emissions from the fire. Signs encouraging guests to minimize wood consumption are present.

Our Property Conservation and Management Plan ensures Glossy Black Cockatoo forage habitat remnants are preserved and extended on site. There is existing gully revegetation and protection for biodiversity and wildlife corridors. Fallen branches, trees, etc are kept for wildlife habitat. We encourage ungroomed and wild areas of the property to provide natural habitats. We avoid pesticides and herbicides, and embrace permaculture principles. We use natural light during the day, and have a dark skies policy at night. Fluorescent and compact fluorescent bulbs are used in preference. External lighting for pathways and amenities access is on motion sensor or timer controls.

Water drawn from the Logan River is sustainable and ecological. When flow is insufficient, water is trucked in. Interpretive signs encourage guests to self-limit their water usage. We have a 10pm noise curfew to optimize the wilderness experience for all guests. No generators are permitted in the camping ground. The overall environment is dominated by the sounds of the natural environment.