Brisbane-based Mr Tony Charters of Tony Charters & Associates praised the plan for The Westin Coolum Resort & Spa for turning a degraded landscape into an accessible village-based ecotourism experience.

“With the standards being proposed by Yaroomba Beach, this development is on the correct path to achieve the highest standard of Advanced Ecotourism Certification and Climate Action Leader Certification from Ecotourism Australia,” Mr Charters said.

“Sekisui House has an international reputation for sustainability, and their experience will deliver Australia’s first 5 star green star resort hotel.

“This development will convert a disused golf course into an experience for tourists and locals of both the natural and cultural history of Yaroomba and the Sunshine Coast. This will be a unique offering and aligns well with the natural brand of the Sunshine Coast.

“Ecotourism experiences are usually only available in remote areas, and it often involves clearing to build tourism facilities. The recycling of a disused golf course avoids new clearing and enables restoration of coastal wallum vegetation.

“The site has mature wallum vegetation which will be retained and added to under the proposal, and is surrounded by the beach and the parabolic and beach sand dunes.

“These natural and cultural assets will provide the basis for outstanding ecotourism experiences – morning visits to the beach to look for animal tracks, bird watching, understanding indigenous food sources and surrounding significant landmarks as well as witnessing the seasonal events such as the whale migration.”

Mr Charters said through the consultation already underway with the local indigenous community, together with the standards and operations planned for the Coastal Discovery Trail and interpretive centre, Yaroomba Beach would achieve a third Ecotourism Australia certification – the Respecting Our Culture Certification.

Sekisui House and Marriott International have teamed up to build The Westin Coolum Resort & Spa at Yaroomba Beach, the first 5 star resort to be built on the Sunshine Coast for 30 years. It is also the first 5 Star hotel in Australia set to achieve a sustainability rating of 5 star Green star under the Green Building Council of Australia as well as the advanced ecotourism certification.

Development applications for the resort, a village centre with shops and park and surrounding apartments and houses are being assessed by Sunshine Coast Council.

Ecotourism Certification is awarded once a development is opened and has passed independent third party auditing. Under the certification scheme ecotourism operators must achieve best practice standards across a myriad of environmental, cultural, conservation and community criteria.

Mr Charters said the resort was an opportunity to apply best practice ecotourism principles on a larger scale than has been done before.

“This will be the largest ecotourism certified resort in Australia, and will expand the reach of environmental and cultural themes to a lot more people,” he said.

“This is an opportunity to really expand beyond sustainability into proactive presentation of natural and cultural heritage, and applying the principles of ecotourism at a best practice level. Providing authentic experiences will be a draw card for international tourists.”

Mr Charters was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the ecotourism industry, particularly to nature-based recreation and to environmental education and visitor programs. He is Vice Chair of the Global Ecotourism Network.

See also:

Emporium Hotel Southpoint, the first EarthCheck Design project in Australia

The Star Gold Coast Hotel and Casino offers apartments for sale

$23.75 million auction sale of beachfront Gold Coast resort