SALT Development First to Achieve Green Globe Status
Green Globe, 24/05/2006
A major Australian development company the Ray Group, have recently demonstrated their commitment to ecological sustainable development by participation in the first pilot study project to evaluate and test the new Green Globe Precinct, Planning and Design Standard (PPDS). The Developer had set its vision at becoming a worldwide leader in developing large mixed use precincts which incorporated travel and tourism facilities and infrastructure. The precinct known as Salt was selected by the Developer to realise this vision. The standard was under development at the Centre for Sustainable Design, University of Queensland. A research team was seeking a tool to benchmark industry best practice for ecological performances. Following negotiations a two year pilot study which started in 2004 and has now resulted in, not only the new Green Globe Precinct and Planning Standard PPDS but also in Salt achieving the first PPDS Green Globe Certification.
To further demonstrate its commitment to environmentally sustainable tourism, The Ray Group has chosen to proceed to the final and highest level of the Green Globe Program - Certification. This process involved a rigorous onsite assessment conducted by the Pilot Study research team which includes a Green Globe accredited third party auditor. By successfully completing the onsite quantitive and qualitative assessment, Salt has demonstrated that the Ray Group are strongly aligned to the aims and objectives of the new Green Globe Standard. This prestigious status awarded under the worldwide Green Globe Certification Program recognises the Developers commitment to operating at the world’s highest ecological standard.
To attain Certification Salt had to be successfully benchmarked against a number of key environmental, social and economic performance indicators. These include masterplanning, siting, water usage, waste management, and energy efficiency, social and economic commitment. As the first scheme benchmarked Salt not only had to achieve levels above existing Green Globe benchmarking figures, (which are measured against the performance of operations of similar size, operating within the same sector and region) but in some of the indicators it had to set best performance levels. Consumers visiting tourism operations in the Green Globe program, such as Salt can be assured that they are supporting an operator and in this case a developer, who is committed to ongoing sustainability and the implementation of a number of sound environmental practices.
About Green Globe
Green Globe is the global Benchmarking, Certification and improvement system assisting the international travel and tourism industry to attain sustainability. Green Globe provides benchmarking and certification programs that responds directly to the major environmental problems facing the planet, including the greenhouse effect, over-use of freshwater resources, destruction of biodiversity, production of solid and biological waste and social issues.
Cathy Parsons, Chief Executive Officer of Green Globe Asia Pacific, says:
“I am pleased for the Ray Group Pty Ltd, Green Globe and the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism that this pilot project of the PPDS at the SALT precinct has been such a success. The SALT precinct now sets a very high standard for future tourism precinct developments to achieve, not only in Australia but globally. It proves that best practice benchmark standards, which consider environmental, social and economic planning issues, can result in mutually beneficial scenarios for the community, the planning authorities and the developers. PPDS provides the framework to make sure this happens. The Ray Group through its commitment in signing up to participate in the Green Globe program and their achievements at Salt, is now an example to all developers that are committed to environmentally sustainable tourism. It has demonstrated through a variety of initiatives, that a company and its employees can make a difference in reducing their environmental impact”.
About Salt
Salt – “a village by the sea”. www.saltvillage.com.au
Salt is a a large mixed use precinct with travel and tourism facilities located on the northern Tweed Coast of New South Wales.
Located within the 73 hectare precinct are :
• 5 star 346 room Peppers Resort Hotel;
• 4.5 star 318 room Outrigger Resort Hotel;
• Conference and board room facilities;
• A health spa, fitness club with sports facilities;
• 433 residential lots for land build packages;
• Village Centre with a variety of resturants, cafes and shops;
• Ocean side tavern;
• Surf Live Saving Patrol;
• A central park with an ampitheatre and a calender of events throughout the
year;
• 17.5 hectares of open space with childrens play areas;
• Jetty and boat shed for recreational water access to creek.
Further future developments of Salt include a 400 room lodge style hotel resort targeted at the 3 to 4 star category. A 170 unit retirement complex and 250 apartments providing medium density “affordable” residential options.
Ray Group Development Manager Steve MacRae who has overseen the development of Salt since its inception welcomed the Green Globe certification.
“We have been working on this certification for the past two years, and the result is a testimony to our commitment to creating the most sustainable and liveable development at Salt that we can possibly achieve,” he said.
“This certification now means that Salt is going to be the model world-wide for sustainable development of new communities both in environmental and social terms.”
To further demonstrate its commitment to environmentally sustainable tourism, The Ray Group has chosen to proceed to the final and highest level of the Green Globe Program - Certification. This process involved a rigorous onsite assessment conducted by the Pilot Study research team which includes a Green Globe accredited third party auditor. By successfully completing the onsite quantitive and qualitative assessment, Salt has demonstrated that the Ray Group are strongly aligned to the aims and objectives of the new Green Globe Standard. This prestigious status awarded under the worldwide Green Globe Certification Program recognises the Developers commitment to operating at the world’s highest ecological standard.
To attain Certification Salt had to be successfully benchmarked against a number of key environmental, social and economic performance indicators. These include masterplanning, siting, water usage, waste management, and energy efficiency, social and economic commitment. As the first scheme benchmarked Salt not only had to achieve levels above existing Green Globe benchmarking figures, (which are measured against the performance of operations of similar size, operating within the same sector and region) but in some of the indicators it had to set best performance levels. Consumers visiting tourism operations in the Green Globe program, such as Salt can be assured that they are supporting an operator and in this case a developer, who is committed to ongoing sustainability and the implementation of a number of sound environmental practices.
About Green Globe
Green Globe is the global Benchmarking, Certification and improvement system assisting the international travel and tourism industry to attain sustainability. Green Globe provides benchmarking and certification programs that responds directly to the major environmental problems facing the planet, including the greenhouse effect, over-use of freshwater resources, destruction of biodiversity, production of solid and biological waste and social issues.
Cathy Parsons, Chief Executive Officer of Green Globe Asia Pacific, says:
“I am pleased for the Ray Group Pty Ltd, Green Globe and the Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism that this pilot project of the PPDS at the SALT precinct has been such a success. The SALT precinct now sets a very high standard for future tourism precinct developments to achieve, not only in Australia but globally. It proves that best practice benchmark standards, which consider environmental, social and economic planning issues, can result in mutually beneficial scenarios for the community, the planning authorities and the developers. PPDS provides the framework to make sure this happens. The Ray Group through its commitment in signing up to participate in the Green Globe program and their achievements at Salt, is now an example to all developers that are committed to environmentally sustainable tourism. It has demonstrated through a variety of initiatives, that a company and its employees can make a difference in reducing their environmental impact”.
About Salt
Salt – “a village by the sea”. www.saltvillage.com.au
Salt is a a large mixed use precinct with travel and tourism facilities located on the northern Tweed Coast of New South Wales.
Located within the 73 hectare precinct are :
• 5 star 346 room Peppers Resort Hotel;
• 4.5 star 318 room Outrigger Resort Hotel;
• Conference and board room facilities;
• A health spa, fitness club with sports facilities;
• 433 residential lots for land build packages;
• Village Centre with a variety of resturants, cafes and shops;
• Ocean side tavern;
• Surf Live Saving Patrol;
• A central park with an ampitheatre and a calender of events throughout the
year;
• 17.5 hectares of open space with childrens play areas;
• Jetty and boat shed for recreational water access to creek.
Further future developments of Salt include a 400 room lodge style hotel resort targeted at the 3 to 4 star category. A 170 unit retirement complex and 250 apartments providing medium density “affordable” residential options.
Ray Group Development Manager Steve MacRae who has overseen the development of Salt since its inception welcomed the Green Globe certification.
“We have been working on this certification for the past two years, and the result is a testimony to our commitment to creating the most sustainable and liveable development at Salt that we can possibly achieve,” he said.
“This certification now means that Salt is going to be the model world-wide for sustainable development of new communities both in environmental and social terms.”
