Stanley beachside retreat in Tasmania, Australia
How this vacation makes a difference
Environment
The property has received three Natural Heritage Grants from the Federal Australian Government in the past ten years. Two of these grants have been for fencing and preservation of a fresh water swamp, the known habitat of a rare Tasmanian frog, the Stripped Marsh frog (Limnodynastes peronii). The third grant was allocated for the excavation of a new wetland, also for the preservation of the stripped marsh frog, due to the long Australian drought resulting in low rainfall in the area and dangerously low water levels.
The local community and Land Care group had input into the grant application with a group of local primary school children monitoring the newly excavated site for weeds and frog numbers and a team of unemployed workers assisted with weed eradication and the planting of additional native trees.
In 2009 we received a Greening Australia grant for 5kms of wallaby fencing to separate the farm pasture from the wildlife habitat, ensuring that cattle do not destruct the neigbouring forest areas and the wildlife do not encroach onto the farm pastures. This project has been very successful.
The farm has been granted the status of 'Land for Wildlife Property' for services given to voluntary wildlife conservation and the Parks and Wildlife sign is proudly displayed at the property entrance.
The land content of our tourism business is over-seen by the Tasmanian State Coastal Policy, which states a sustainable development must:
1) Sustain the potential of natural and physical resources to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations.
2) Safeguard the life-supporting capacity of air, water, soil, and ecosystems.
3) Avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effects on the environment.
To meet the above recommendations, it was necessary to ensure development of our tourism development did not adversely impact on the fragile and sensitive nature of the coastal dunes. We adopted a conservative approach, with the construction of the ecocabins and the choice of local materials to blend in with the environment.
Precautionary techniques were applied to minimize negative impacts by:
• Providing an environmentally sensitive design in empathy with the site,
• Limiting the site disturbance to areas to be occupied by construction only.
• Replacing all disturbed topsoil, grass and vegetation to prevent degradation of the fragile ecology. Protecting the excavated dune area from potential erosion, by covering exposed sand with recycled carpet underlay.
• Conserving soil moisture by the use of seaweed and other mulches.
• Retaining all native vegetation, plus additional planting of trees and shrubs to create further screening and camouflage the site.
• Ensuring that external colours of the ecocabins complemented the foliage.
• Leaving the site clean and tidy and all timber off-cuts, rubbish and surplus building materials removed, to minimized pollution.
• Placing all services to the cabins underground to prevent unsightly poles.
• For energy conservation, commercial gas is connected for instantaneous hot water, heating and cooking. The efficient gas heaters are thermostatically controlled and can be preset to time and temperature.
• Rainwater is collected from roofs, stored in tanks and delivered by electric pump to each cabin. This is a very cost effective method of water conservation. Sink plugs are fitted to all hand basins and dual flush toilet cisterns have been installed. Guests are asked to conserve water and towels are changed every second day.
• For internal lighting, 12 volt, low wattage quartz-iodine globes are attached to overhead wires. This reduces power consumption and running costs. Movement sensors, to assist guests arriving at night and to minimize unnecessary use of electricity, operate external lighting to the cabins.
• For cooling, fresh air is drawn through adjustable floor and window vents, and warm air is expelled via another vent opening, high in the apex of the ecocabins. This is an efficient, inexpensive, alternative to air conditioning to control the heat generated by the afternoon sun, which is reflected by the sea directly through the large windows. Overheating is also minimized by fibreglass solar blinds, which absorb excessive heat on a warm day and relay heat during the colder months.
• Vegetated areas were created for the preservation of flora and fauna and to encourage biodiversity, initially undertaken by Landcare and Natural Heritage Trust grants. This year extensive plantings have taken place to extend a wildlife corridor and provide shelter from the easterly winds.
• We utilize an efficient waste management system; recycle all bottles and compost vegetable matter.
• Typing paper is used on both sides and office supplies are purchased in bulk.
• Only natural, non-animal fat, eco-toiletries are used.
• Cleaning materials and multiple use toiletries are purchased in bulk to reduce the number of containers for disposal. Only bleach free, non-toxic, biodegradable detergents and cleaning fluids are used.
We are concerned for the environment and have taken these actions to reduce the negative impact on our fragile ecology, feeling an obligation to protect the health, biodiversity and productivity of our land for the benefit of future generations.
Community
We support many initiatives that benefit the local community in social, financial, environmental, historical and cultural terms.
• Our tourism business employs 4 local housekeepers and a gardener. The part-time farm worker trims the hedges and trees around the ecocabins and a team of disadvantaged workers are periodically employed to work on the shelterbelts.
• We have supported the Tidy Towns Competition and assisted Stanley in winning both the state and national awards. We have supplied complimentary accommodation to the Tasmanian judges and our wetlands have been part of the winning environmental section.
• We formally made a written submission against a Marine Farming Development Plan, for the granting of commercial oyster leases in West Inlet; this ensured that the community could continue to enjoy the local culture of fishing, swimming and boating in the area.
• We have compiled two, winning Tasmanian Tourism Award entries for the Stanley Municipal Caravan Park.
• Financial contributions are made to the Christmas parade every year, for sweets for the children and Christmas raffle. We sponsor activities and fund-raising of the primary school children and local agricultural show.
• We are members of the Stanley Landcare and Coastcare Group and were granted Natural Heritage Funding for weed eradication, botanical inventory and excavation of a wetland for the endangered, striped marsh frog. Frog numbers continue to rise and the primary school children visit to monitor the frog calls.
• We have maintained a fauna inventory and rainfall figures of the Stanley peninsula for thirty years, storing knowledge for future generations.
• Historically, we have researched the convict records of our property, since the granting of the Royal Charter to the VDL Co., from the State Archives. We have details of the convict who lived here for 50 years; also records and photographs of the Stanley racetrack, which operated on the farm, from 1890 to 1958, so that the history of the peninsula is ensured.
Culturally, we support:
• National and International articles, written by journalists we host from the Visiting Journalist Program, which highlight attractions, tours and local businesses. This gives a wide media coverage, not normally affordable to small businesses.
• As charter members of the Stanley Chamber of Commerce we are actively involved in community issues that benefit the culture of the townspeople and the livelihoods of local businesses.
As a business, involved with tourism, we make a significant contribution to the local economic and social lifestyle of this community.
• Local tradesmen, e.g. electricians, plumbers, gas fitters, painters, the sign writer and a computer technician are regularly sought by our business.
• We required the services of an architect, engineer, surveyor, council planner, environmental officer and building inspector during the construction of our cabins. Many building materials were sourced from within the municipality.
• Breakfast provisions, wines, fruit juices, toilet rolls, tissues, cleaning materials, petrol, linen, stationary supplies and native plants are purchased locally. We also patronize the laundry service, garage, newsagency, post office and professional service providers.
Our guests contribute to the economy as customers of local businesses. They:
• Purchase food and grocery lines at the supermarket.
• Dine out at the local hotels, cafes and restaurants.
• Pay entry fees to attractions, National Parks and Forestry Reserves.
• Undertake wildlife tours and cruises.
• Buy local products, crafts and artworks for souvenirs.
• Purchase newspapers and reading materials from the newsagency.
• Visit medical practitioners and need prescriptions from the pharmacy.
• Utilize the post office for EfPos transactions, banking and mail services.
• Buy petrol from the local garage and require car repairs.
• Utilize sporting and recreational facilities, such as golf courses, bowling greens, squash courts and the swimming pool.
Monies spent by guests assist the viability of businesses and enrich the community purse. These businesses, in turn spend the revenue on staff wages, stock purchases, office supplies, printing, cleaning materials, repairs and maintenance, vehicle servicing and foodstuffs, all purchased from other local businesses. This all contributes to the economic development of the community including employment, education, professional opportunities and health care.
We maintain a local website: www.discovernorthwesttasmania.com.au, owned and edited by ourselves, for the benefit of regional tourism operators, which has been very successful for the past 3 years, highlighting this area of Tasmania to the rest of the world.
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