Tourism body helping local business operators go green
ENVIRONMENT
The Douglas Shire’s tourism body, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree (TPDD) has partnered with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is Queensland to encourage moves to a greener future.
The ecoBiz initiative calls on like-minded businesses to take part in a new program to be rolled out across the Douglas Shire to help local tourism operators cut their energy, water, and waste bills.
Tara Bennett, executive officer of TPDD, said they were looking for up to 20 business to form the first cluster group.
This group would then be mentored free of charge over the next 12 months to improve efficiencies
in their businesses.
“The ecoBiz program offers a fantastic opportunity for small to medium sized businesses to reduce
their utility costs and achieve tangible environmental gains with a lot of practical, one-on-one
support,”she said.
More than 1000 businesses across Queensland had already taken part in the ecoBiz program, which has been running for over 20 years.
Businesses already participating in the program have been found to cut their energy, water, and waste bills on average 12 per cent, 13 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.
Ms Bennett said becoming an ecoBiz partner fits with the Douglas Shire’s push to become a clean and green Eco-destination.
Ms Bennett said businesses in the Douglas Shire could benefit from training and monitoring that has helped other operators around the state.
“Businesses in the local cluster group will receive the same one-on-one support as well as
additional resources,” she said.
“These will include workshops to learn from one another and identify common challenges and
solutions, opportunities for joint action on initiatives to share resources and costs as well as case
study opportunities.
“ecoBiz partners have taken practical steps to reduce waste in their business’ like ditching
disposable coffee cups, reducing food loss and going paperless and I am sure we can expect
similar recommendations and outcomes.”
Applications for the CCIQ ecoBiz cluster group will close on August 31, 2019. For more information or to apply contact Mikala McDowall at info@visitportdouglasdaintree.com.au.
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