The commercial attraction of environmentally sensitive and ecologically sound resort developments is a given. But just how far is a developer prepared to go to demonstrate their green credentials?
Flick through the pages of any newspaper or magazine travel listings and you’ll see eco this and enviro that tossed about with gay abandon. Who measures the degree of green compliance? What real measures are in place that support a resort’s claims of eco-sensitivity?
Research by the author has discovered that some so-called green ‘tick’ schemes are little more than that. A hotel or motel operator completes a self-assessment form, writes a cheque and a smart green sticker arrives in the mail.
More rigorous are the Green Globe benchmarking system and the Eco Certification Program from Ecotourism Australia, both designed to accredit existing properties wishing to enhance their green credentials as well as new properties on the drawing board.
But occasionally a project comes to light that transcends even those standards and creates a whole new level of environmental acknowledgement.
The Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Blue Mountains, is Emirates Hotels & Resorts’ first hospitality development outside Dubai is perhaps the country’s most concerted effort to create a true eco-resort from a standing start.
In 2005, then NSW Tourism Minister, The Hon Sandra Nori MP, presented a Certificate of Recognition acknowledging Emirates’ contribution to raising the profile of tourism in NSW, by selecting the Blue Mountains as the location for its first conservation-based resort outside Dubai.
Now, four years and over $100 million later, the resort is preparing for a soft opening on October 1. But the path to this climax has been anything but smooth. The developers encountered many layers of planning obstacles that included confusion over National Park boundaries, native title and infrastructure improvements like roads and electricity.
It’s important to note that the development of this property is based on highly degraded agricultural land now unfit for the task. It is however perfectly situated in a valley surrounded by spectacular natural landscapes typical of the UNESCO World Heritage area.
Visiting the property in June, squads of international volunteer students were furiously planting 25,000 trees along the exposed banks of the river at the rate of 1000 per day. The trees are grown using seeds from local species collected onsite earlier in the year and grown at a local nursery in Lithgow.
“A lot of attention goes into planting the right endemic species of trees,” said Trevor Evans, Conservation Land Management Consultant for Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa. “They need to be local native trees and choosing the right time of the year to plant them is critical. We had to conduct extensive research to identify the correct plant and tree species to protect the integrity of the current flora and fauna on the reserve.”
But the care and rejuvenation of the “clapped out” pastoral land is not limited to planting trees and growing grass.
In April, the resort signed a landmark agreement with the University of Western Sydney (UWS) to launch a biodiversity research study on its 4000 acre soon-to-be wildlife reserve in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The two-year study will track the results of the ambitious conservation plans, which aim at re-establishing the site’s natural habitat and indigenous species after almost a century of agricultural activity and cattle grazing.
The biodiversity study includes:
- Site investigations, habitat assessment and vegetation surveys
- Studies on wildlife species and the effects of creating feral-free environments through the use of feral-exclusion fencing.
- Ongoing monitoring of water quality, and the impact of upstream and downstream environments.
- Fauna, flora and riparian surveys to re-establish watercourse vegetation and indigenous forest, providing assessments on wildlife populations and monitoring the success of endangered wildlife re-introductions.
- To establish management regimes for the removal of invasive, exotic weeds, and a study focussed on ethical removal of introduced predator and feral animals, which have over the passed century decimated Australia’s naturally occurring wildlife.
“This is a significant step forward for the conservation programme,” said Joost Heymeijer, the resort’s General Manager, “Careful removal of pests and feral predators from the site has been ongoing, and the flora and fauna surveys, which are a key element of the biodiversity study, will provide clear data on how the ecosystem is responding and ensures that re-introduction of indigenous species is done successfully.”
An unfortunate byproduct of pastoral activities over many decades has meant that feral animals have flourished around the stock grazing in the paddocks. Cats, wild dogs, goats, foxes and rabbits have all conspired to discourage native species from returning. Yet as our tour continued around the perimeter of the property, squads of wallabies could be seen coming down from the scrub to graze.
“This is a great opportunity for the University of Western Sydney to be part of a substantial conservation project”, said Research Coordinator, Dr Julie Old. “It’s terrific to be working with an organisation such as Emirates Hotels & Resorts, which has consistently put conservation at the heart of its value proposition.”
Using the land as a blank canvas, the design of the resort aims to produce the smallest possible footprint and occupies just two per cent of the total property.
Dominic Bennett is an associate director for Turner + Associates Architects, and has been the project architect for Wolgan valley Resort & Spa since July 2006.
“It is satisfying to see the original vision being delivered successfully for our client. Being based on site during the construction process has allowed us to gain a better understanding of the valley, include the work of local artisans, recycle materials from the site and work closely with the client to enrich the guest experience from opening day onwards” he said in a statement issued by the resort.
“The architecture is quiet, and defers to its spectacular natural context. The buildings are grouped closely, built along contours and around water courses, and are sited on one of the most degraded parts of the site.”
Efficient and sustainable design of water, sewer and power infrastructure systems has been a significant influence on the resort design, including a black water treatment plant, gas-boosted solar hot water, rainwater catchments and treatment, windmill water reticulation and use of recycled and local materials.
One of the more interesting features of the development is the total restoration of an early 19th century farmhouse by celebrated Australian, Ian Kiernan.
When fully completed, this secluded resort will feature 40 individual suites surrounded by private decks, each having its own indoor / outdoor swimming pool, separate living and sleeping areas, luxurious en suite bathroom and double-sided fireplace.
For more information: www.wolganvalley.com
Roderick Eime, writes regularly on tourism and travel for a variety of publications
Written for Landcare Magazine, November 2009