Branding the Fraser Coast as a Centre for Sustainable Technology

It is easier than it sounds and well within reach!!

Our goal is to create an identity for our region through an exemplary, interrelated system that benefits and enhances all the major industries of the area and to build the local economy so that it is more resilient to outside shocks. This plan builds on infrastructure, projects and assets already existing in the region, giving us substantial leverage to achieving our goal. As an outstanding ecotourism destination in an environment of inter-reliant sustainable technologies, we can market ourselves to the world as a Centre for Sustainable Technology – Man and the Biosphere (recognised by UNESCO). Simply put, Hervey Bay and the Fraser Coast will be known as a Green Centre for Sustainable Technology in the same way that Longreach is known for the Stockman’s Hall of Fame.

If you would, imagine a car with all its parts disassembled (analogy from Systems Thinking). This is very similar to our community, with different groups and organisations working in their own area and applying for funding for various projects. The parts of the car are of some value individually, but it is only when they are assembled and working as a whole do we get the true benefits. The difference is that a ‘system’ is not the sum of its parts – it is the product of their interactions. This plan is based on ‘systems thinking’ and proposes an ambitious and holistic project for the economic development of the Fraser Coast Region.

Under this plan organisations can apply for relevant funding. As an example Wide Bay Institute of TAFE could apply for the Education Investment Fund ($10 million minimum bid) and Wide Bay Water apply for the Qld Gov Industrial Waste Levy fund. Because these parts are used to ‘build the car’ the return on the investment will be so much more, hopefully increasing the chance of funding success.

A few dot points:

• Transition Towns Hervey Bay facilitated and created the Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP). It was the result of community consultation and holds the suggestions of about 70 community members. All suggestions were included. The EDAP is not a full plan, just a collection of suggestions.
• For the EDAP we looked at all the threats to our region and our major industries (tourism, fisheries, sugarcane) and tried to give environmentally sustainable solutions to maintain a vibrant and economically sound region full of opportunities.
• A plan that comes from pg 20 of the EDAP helps to create an identity for the region. A centre for sustainable technologies, Man and the Biosphere. With a world quality eco tourism destination, internationally recognised RAMSAR wetlands, UNESCO recognised Biosphere and the sustainable work of some of our organisations eg carbon sink forests, community solar farm, anaerobic digesters (creating power from waste), water education park, we are in a strong position to achieve this.
• We have many projects already in place to help us reach our goal; it is just a case of tying it together, branding and adding a few crucial parts.
• Transition Towns would like to see interlinked technologies so that the waste from one feeds the next. (Cradle to cradle production)
• The technologies needed to supply food, fuel and energy due to the threats of increased severe weather events and oil vulnerability. Recent events in our State saw communities go without fresh food – this plan helps to avert that. How they are linked is best explained in the diagram symbiotic relationships below.
• This will enable money to circulate in the region and make our economy much stronger than relying on tourism.
• Local industries that will benefit:
  • Tourism (see section on Tourism)
  • Fisheries
  • Agriculture and cane farming/Maryborough Sugar
  • Utilities – water supply, power generation, fuel supply
  • If the region can gain a reputation for encouraging green investment, we may be able to attract green entrepreneurs and investment that we need for the bioplastics industry (Algae fuel section in the diagram below).
• If we work with major organisations in the region to apply for funding from different sources but explain ‘the car with all the parts disassembled’ analogy, and that when the car is built we get a lot more for our money, we are more likely of successful funding applications because the result will be so much more bang for your buck. Eg the Biochar plant at Wide Bay Water or Maryborough Sugar – Qld Gov industrial waste levy not only greening waste and generating electricity, but making the cane industry more viable and helping to brand our region as a centre for green technology thus benefiting farming and the tourism industry too and providing carbon capture. It could also – if opened for investment in the same way as the community solar farm – give tourism operators the opportunity to spread their risk – investing in a tourist attraction while fuel (oil) is relatively cheap and then when peak oil hits and tourism declines for a while they will have an alternative income from the power generation and carbon sequestration. This will also strengthen our local economy as the money will be circulating locally. As a carbon negative operation, not a reduction of 5% or even 50%, but actually sucking the carbon back out of the atmosphere this will be quite an attraction.
• Similar benefits with the fisheries/aquaponics – provides a parallel industry, uses only 40% of water compared to traditional food production etc
• Similar benefits with the organic horticultural production only 700m form a major supermarket in the centre of Hervey Bay. Zero embedded carbon and a reliable fresh food supply even when the main highway is cut in Gympie!!!
• Similar benefits with education (online and international students) and opportunity to participate in research.
• Similar with fuel production – but this will also open up a new bio-plastics opportunity for green entrepreneurs to come to our region and the possibility of bio-aviation fuel being developed.

And much much more.

The size of these projects depends on how many organisations, businesses and individuals we can get behind this plan and if locals insist on embracing old ideology or if the majority see this as an opportunity to embrace a new paradigm.

The release of the Rural Land Use paper by Prof Garnaut confirmed that there are huge opportunities for regional areas that consider climate change.

We really are in a position to easily make a major change the future prosperity of this region.

Tourism

The Bundaberg-Fraser Coast Tourism Opportunity Plan (TOP) actually links very closely to the Transition Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP). One notable difference between the TOP and the EDAP was the omission from the TOP SWOT analysis of the vulnerability of the tourism industry with regards to the price of oil. This is a very big omission as at the time CSIRO had put out a document saying that fuel could be as expensive as $8 per litre by 2018 (http://www.csiro.au/files/files/plm4.pdf ) and since then Lloyds of London have released a document to aid risk management with statements like: ‘Market dynamics and environmental factors mean business can no longer rely on low cost traditional energy sources’ and  ‘Investment in renewable energy and ‘intelligent’ infrastructure is booming. This revolution presents huge opportunities for new business partnerships.’ (http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/891/)

The EDAP and the plan that Transition Town Hervey Bay is working on addresses this issue, however there are many ways to tackle a problem. Had the TOP SWOT analysis identified the price of fuel as a threat then perhaps the industry would have addressed this issue in a different way.

The TOP suggests that we need an identity for the region and an all weather tourist attraction – TTHB suggests that the identity should be a /centre for Sustainable Technologies and that the all weather tourist attraction be labeled either an Eco-Centre or a Sustainable Technologies Centre.

In the second half of 2011, Wide Bay TAFE will be one of the first institutes to deliver 5 sustainability units specifically targeted at the hospitality industry and it is recommended that our tourism operators look into this training for their staff.

As an example of what can be done, below are the results of a few people in the hospitality industry getting together and brainstorming some ideas on how to green their industry.

Industry Workshop Suggestions to Increase the Sustainability of Hotels and Resorts

REDUCE

• ECO rate – cheaper nightly rate if guests do not receive daily services
• Train staff in environmental sustainability to create a green culture and minimise waste – qualified, experienced people
• Implementing better stock ordering procedures to ensure par level and wastage are kept to a minimum
• Implementing power usage/monitoring system like C-Bus lighting system which works on timers to ensure only the necessary power is used
• Use gas or diesel rather than petrol vehicles – reduces CO² emissions
• Where possible use electronic brochures
• Use laptops over desktops
• Replacing all light bulbs with energy efficient ones
• Replacing all shower heads with water saving ones
• Herb garden for kitchen use reduces embedded carbon in food and provides a healthy fresh alternative
• Use rainwater tanks where possible
• Use solar power where possible
• Use solar hot water where possible
• Monitor use of water and electricity – digital displays for customers
• Use new, more energy efficient air conditioners

REUSE

• Replacing individual soap/shampoo/conditioner/shave cream etc with wall dispense systems and environmentally friendly products
• Reuse toner cartridges, lost property etc.
• Set the default on printers and copiers to print double sided
• Filter, clean and reuse oil in the kitchen

RECYCLE

• Set up recycling bins for staff and customers
• Recycling all paper, metal and plastics
• Recycle old brochures – some may be suitable for schools to use for projects
• Worm farm for disposing of some food left-overs
• Green waste recycled for herb garden, (mulch or compost)

NEW BUSINESS/IDEAS

• Offering guests to buy carbon credits if they wish to use air conditioners and spas (use local community solar farm or tree planting at the carbon capture forests)
• Establish environmental policies and procedures
• Provision of locally made, eco souvenirs
• Restaurants to source local, organic produce and create a 100 mile meal or provide a ‘locavore’ menu and a flexitarian menu (smaller portions of meat, more local salad or vegetables) and embrace the ‘farm to fork’ trend or even better OOOBY food (Out Of Our Back Yard)
• Environmental information available for customers – e.g. stay on walking tracks, education on camp fires etc.
• Use of environmentally friendly cleaning products
• Create a green culture in your business – commitment and shared understanding of sustainability
• Where possible preserve remnant forests and wild life – it’s what makes the Biosphere special and why UNESCO has recognised us
• Support local environmental initiatives, join sustainability clusters and discuss environmentally sustainable business development with your Economic Development Councilor
• Maintain a positive environmental attitude to take advantage of the green gold rush