Sunshine Coast self catering accommodation, Queensland

We are working with a local group to educate guests and the community about the Richmond Birdwing butterfly and its near extinction. Similarly, we are now setting up a native frog project that will also be educational and show guests and the local community about the threat of urbanisation to our native frog population.

Guests are told of the fragile biodiversity of the Glasshouse Mountains area and are invited to plant a tree as a means of contributing to the biodiversity of the area prior to leaving. Guests are also encouraged to leave a small donation to the local environmental group to assist with their tree planting efforts in the area. The ecolodge has an organic garden and orchard and guests are invited to help themselves to the garden produce. It is designed on permaculture principals. There are many local Aboriginal legends in the area and we ask guests to respect the wishes of the local Gubi Gubi people by not visiting certain areas.

The Sunshine Coast self catering ecolodge uses two 450-litre solar hot water systems for all guest bathroom needs. Water saving devices is installed in all bathroom areas and the rail carriage dining area. A bathtub is only available in one of the nine bedrooms in a measure designed to save the consumption of water. An on demand gas system is provided for all cooking needs in the self-catering dining carriage. Our water usage per guest is measured each month and we are constantly introducing new measures to ensure the average usage per guest is reduced each month.

The ecolodge sources all its water needs on site. Harvesting rainwater from 400 square metres of roof area and storing in two 20,000-litre underground storage tanks achieve this. These are supplemented by an onsite bore water supply when required. The lodge recycles all of its grey water via its own on site commercial grade waste sewerage system. All recycled grey water is reused on the ecolodge's coffee and orchard areas.

The ecolodge uses low energy lighting throughout the property including a series of movement sensitive lighting in public areas thus eliminating the need to have car parks and walkways permanently lit at night. Our energy usage per guest is measured each month’s and we are constantly monitoring this to look at ways to reduce our onsite energy use. The ecolodge has a comprehensive waste recycling system that includes: Composting of all vegetable matter for later use in gardens, composting of all green trees matter and lawn clippings for use around the orchard, recycling of all glass, metal and paper into the Caloundra City Council waste management system. The ecolodge uses eco-sensitive, non-chemical cleaning agents in guest rooms and public areas.

The ecolodge does not provide television sets in rooms nor does it provide air-conditioning in every room. The philosophy is to encourage guests to relax, read a book about the local wildlife or enjoy more active yet low impact activities such as bush walking, bird watching, bike riding and star gazing at night. We encourage wildlife through planting of appropriate species of flora. We have installed a series of bird breeding boxes in a number of trees throughout the property. We encourage guests to participate in our Bird Identification project where guests identify particular species of birds and record them in our project book.

Our garden and orchard is designed on permaculture principles. We do not use chemical sprays or any poisons. We compost our green clippings and encourage birdlife into our garden by planting appropriate species of tree Environmental Cleaning products. We use “ENJO” non-chemical products throughout the ecolodge resulting in zero l impact on the groundwater table. Three of the four buildings at the ecolodge are reused buildings and carriages that have been relocated to the site. One is in excess of 120 years of age and was saved from certain destruction. The policy of the ecolodge is to reuse salvaged timbers and products wherever possible. Furniture within the ecolodge has been made from salvaged timbers from within the property.

We promote local food outlets and services for guests to utilise whilst in the area. Rather than bring their “bags of groceries and food supplies” with them we encourage guests to buy locally from the nearby village stores and markets. We recommend local businesses and tourist operators if they wish to dine out. We purchase locally grown products from the ecolodge shop. The ecolodge employs local staff thus ensuring sustainable employment in the local area. We discourage excessive vehicle usage by encouraging guests to use the local “free bus” if they wish to dine out at the local hotel.

The ecolodge has a policy of only purchasing goods and services from local businesses and operators. local businesses, thus ensuring the local community benefits through more job opportunities and purchase of local goods and services