CORPORATE
Sustainable Environmental Tourism Practice
We are a recognised leader in sustainable environmental tourism practice and work in harmony with our local environments.
Voyages’ Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is a dynamic system that details all plans, programs, procedures and strategies for minimising environmental impacts and maximising performance. It has been developed in accordance with the ISO14000 standards for environmental management and details objectives, targets, accountabilities, actions, documentation and review for key environmental issues.
The EMP addresses environmental management issues across the Voyages’ portfolio, establishing plans and programs in accordance with the strategic direction established at our first property, Ayers Rock Resort.
Our commitment can broadly be summarised as follows:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Voyages signed a Greenhouse Challenge Agreement in early 2000. Through a series of initiatives we are focusing on energy management - reducing electricity consumption, LPG usage - and waste management techniques to reduce disposal to landfill.
Energy Management
- At Kings Canyon Resort we are part of Australia’s largest ever solar project which is used to power 80% of the Resort.
- The fabric roof and sails which dominate Ayers Rock Resort are an important part of its low-energy system as they provide outdoor shading and reduce the sun’s heat load on the buildings, less electricity is required for air-conditioning.
- We utilise low-wattage, energy saver light globes in our rooms and utilise LPG where possible to generate less emissions
Waste management – reduce, re-use, recycle
- We actively recycle and dictate a packaging reduction regime to all suppliers
- Worn linen and towels are recycled
- At Ayers Rock Resort we will provide calico bags for use in our town square supermarket eliminating the use of plastic bags and reduce plastic usage in our rooms by utilising biodegradable bin liners
Efficiently managing water resources
- At Ayers Rock Resort, we efficiently utilise the groundwater pumped from the Dune Plains Aquifer. Once treated, the purest water supply is used for drinking, washing and showering. A second stream of bore water remains untreated and is used for toilets and in the fire hydrant. Wastewater from the sewerage system is treated to a “Class A” quality which can be used for irrigation
Protection of biodiversity – native flora and fauna
- We conduct regular flora and fauna surveys at our properties and support management plans for vulnerable species such as the Cassowary in Tropical North Queensland, and the Mulgara (a small native marsupial), the Great Desert Skink and the Marsupial Mole in the Red Centre.
