The Observatory goes GREEN!

The "greening" of the Town Beach precinct is set to flourish mid-month and it's not only Port Macquarie's famous Norfolk Pine trees that will be part of the theme.

The Observatory Resort Hotel,  overlooking the beach, is going all out for the traditional "wearing of the green" on St Patrick's Day, March 17, to celebrate a pioneering carbon-reduction, carbon-neutral initiative formally applied across the entirety of its guest accommodation.

The hotel has chosen the "greenest day of the year" to mark its new environmentally responsible status. Last year it underwent a comprehensive independent study that officially measured its carbon emissions and subsequently embarked on a progressive carbon reduction program.

Under a staged strategy supervised by the Carbon Reduction Institute, endorsed by Country Energy and recently implemented, The Observatory will be entirely carbon-neutral in three years. Unlike some programs, guests will not be asked to pay offset fees and the hotel's owners will bear the cost of a proactive program.

To celebrate, the hotel will hold a "green" morning tea on St Patrick's Day. Cucumber sandwiches, lime-iced cakes, green tea and green coffee will be served.

A director of The Observatory, Chris Denny, said green was the theme chosen as a simple way of highlighting the importance of carbon awareness measures.

"We're very serious about introducing and expanding environmentally sensitive and sound practices in our region ," Mr Denny said. "The Observatory is keen to be a leader in growing our green consciousness on the Mid-North Coast and we're unashamedly using every opportunity we can find to encourage associated industries, our suppliers and so, on to come on board with their own complementary initiatives."

Green coffee, he said, was a term used to describe locally roasted Peak coffee, which is made from fair trade and rainforest alliance beans under a policy aimed at giving back to the world's impoverished coffee-growing nations.

Mr Denny, a vice-president of Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association, said the Mid-North Coast was already known for its pristine waterways, environmentally-conscious council, koala preservation and conservation of water and the natural environment.

"We're hoping to get the attention and stimulate the support of the community throughout 2009 to underline the need for us all to be environmentally aware and combat climate change in every way we can, as businesses and as individuals.

"With the equable climate we enjoy here in Port and the region, as a spin-off benefit we can look forward to becoming widely acknowledged as a truly green destination.

"There are all sorts of opportunities, even in aviation. We've been in talks with Brindabella Airlines, for instance, who have introduced the most fuel-efficient aircraft of its class on their Port Macquarie schedules. It's not widely known that their J41 planes flying here now use 20 per cent less fuel than any comparable aircraft.

"In some of these instances it may be only little steps at a time, but it all adds up to reducing carbon pollution and I think most of us know what that means Australia and our future generations.

"It's just a matter of being aware of efficient use of energy. When we assessed our carbon footprint, the Carbon Reduction Institute even took into account the distance travelled by staff and their vehicle emissions in driving to work.

"We've already had some excellent encouragement in our green campaign, from associates, tourism and government authorities, environmental groups and visiting travel writers.

"When he was staying in-house recently, federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke took time out from his holiday to meet with us and our federal and State MPs Rob Oakeshott and Peter Besseling for a briefing on our program. We're really honoured to have their support."

The Member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott, this week praised The Observatory's move.

"With climate change and measures to combat it uppermost on the Government's agenda, it's terrific to see individuals and individual  businesses such as The Observatory taking a proactive approach to carbon reduction programs," Mr Oakeshott said. "Initiatives like this one truly have the potential to stamp the Mid-North Coast with a point of difference in the minds of visitors and give our tourism industry an added edge in a challenging and highly competitive environment."

Issued: March 1 2009