By JOLENE OGLE
IT’S EASY to be green thanks to Tourism Noosa’s latest initiative, Noosa Eco Check.
Officially launched by Australia Zoo’s Terri Irwin in July this year and run as a business education program, Noosa Eco Check offers local businesses the chance to assess their environmental impact as well as learn good green practices through case studies.
Noosa Today has completed the Noosa Eco Check, along with 72 other local businesses from accommodation operators such as Sheraton Noosa Resort and Spa, RACV Noosa Resort and Noosa Blue Resort to smaller accommodation operators such as Noosa River Retreat and Yallambie Apartments.
Bill and Andrea Stokje of Noosa River Retreat Resort said the Noosa Eco Check program was easy to navigate, comprehensive and informative.
“The program gives Noosa locals an insight on how to maximise and encourage eco-friendly practices around the home and businesses, maintaining our pristine environment for now and into the future. This is another great idea from Tourism Noosa,” they said.
Tourism Noosa also report several tour operators have also completed the online program including Noosa Learn to Surf, Noosa Stand-up Paddle and Malu Os Eco Boat Hire Noosa.
Malu Os owners Kirsty Patten and Linda Boyes, whose business features in the Noosa Eco Check program as a case study, said completing the program helped them to learn different ways local business can reduce their impact on the environment.
“This is a great initiative by Tourism Noosa to get businesses to not only decrease their environmental footprint but to save some money too,” they said.
The Noosa Eco Check program is also for local business operators with companies such as Options Eyecare, Sunshine Coast Brochure Display and Versatile Resourcing already completing the program.
At the time of launching the initiative, Councillor Wilkie said the key to a healthy economy was a healthy environment.
“What I love about the Noosa Eco Check program is it makes the link between the environment and the economy,” he said.
“Most of us here appreciate that Noosa’s waterways, forests, parks and beautiful hinterland not only makes this an attractive place to lives but is key to making it a very successful tourist destination.”
Terri Irwin, who launched the program, said the Noosa Eco Check program gives everyone in Noosa the chance to make a difference.
“Something that can be really overwhelming can be to look at the problems we have today and think what can I do to make a change … but as an individual or an individual business every single thing you do is affecting positive change,” she said.
“If everyone does something, we’re going to be fine. If you throw up your hands and do nothing, you’re in trouble.”
Terri said environmentally friendly buildings, putting you waste in the right bin, investing in solar power, and keeping Noosa clean, are all little things everyone can do to keep Noosa at the forefront for tourism and visitation.
The Noosa Eco Check program is free to Welcome to Noosa program participants and takes about one and a half hours to complete.
To find out more about the program or to register visit www.noosaecocheck.com.au or email info@noosaecocheck.com.au.
