By JOLENE OGLE
AUSTRALIA Zoo’s Terri Irwin was in town on Wednesday 29 July to launch Tourism Noosa’s latest business education program, Noosa Eco Check.
Terri is the program’s ambassador and said she first visited Noosa as an international tourist more than 24 years ago said she was excited to be back to launch such an “important” program.
The Noosa Eco Check is the second stage of the award-winning Welcome to Noosa program and helps local businesses develop easy-to-implement key actions in areas such as energy, water, waste and corporate social responsibility.
Tourism Noosa CEO Damien Massingham said the program was an interactive online training program that will help local businesses implement environmentally friendly business practices that will also support Noosa in becoming a truly sustainable and eco-friendly destination.
“We have developed Noosa Eco Check to provide businesses with the opportunity to assess their environmental performance,” he said.
Councillor Frank Wilkie was also on hand to celebrate the launch of Noosa Eco Check, and said the key to a healthy economy is a healthy environment.
“What I love about the 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 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 could do to keep Noosa at the forefront for tourism and visitation.
Tourism Noosa will officially launch the Noosa Eco Check program to more than 200 tourism operators at the monthly Tourism Noosa networking night to be held at Peppers Noosa Resort and Spa tonight (29 July).
The Noosa Eco Check program is free to Welcome to Noosa program participants and takes about 90 minutes to complete.
To find out more about the program or to register visit www.noosaecocheck.com.au or email info@noosaecocheck.com.au
