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2011 Alpine Resorts Sustainability Forum

'Diversity - beyond the boundaries'

An exceptional seventh annual Alpine Resorts Sustainability Forum was hosted by the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage (OEH) and held 9-10 May 2011 at Lake Crackenback Resort, Jindabyne NSW. This years forum theme was 'Diversity - beyond the boundaries'.

The forum was officially opened by Bob Conroy, Executive Director Park Management Division, OEH. Mr Conroy emphasised the NSW government would not forsake environmental responsibility in the pursuit of being economically competitive. He also spoke about the challenge that the Australian alpine resort industry faces on a daily basis while managing businesses in Australia’s fragile alpine environment. Mr Conroy announced that in 2011 NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service will be publishing the inaugural annual NSW alpine resorts environmental performance report covering Kosciuszko National Park.

Three outstanding keynote speakers: Professor Mike Archer a vertebrate palaeontologist and mammalogist; Rachael Oakes-Ash, social media commentator and ski journalist; and the futurist Mark Pesce delivered thought-provoking presentations. The remainder of the program included presenters, workshop facilitators and field trips. The other presenters challenged people's thinking when they spoke on a broad range of topics including improved initiatives in sustainable use and management of alpine resorts including better use of technology, social networking sites, sustainable tourism and marketing and environmental reporting as well as the development of improved snowmobiles.

Delegates had wonderful networking opportunities throughout the forum, particularly at the opening dinner and at one of four workshops or fieldtrips: 'Thredbo EMS: the Challenge of the EMS in an Alpine Environment'; 'Climbing the Social Media Ladder'; 'Keys to Successful Rehabilitation in the Alps'; and a guided mountain bike ride On the Tourism Track in Thredbo Valley'.

Central to the 2011 forum program was an exhibition of sustainable products, services and campaigns related to the forum theme, 'Diversity - beyond the boundaries'. The following businesses and organisations exhibited at the 2011 expo:

• Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council
• Apricus Australia
• BioBag
• ChainPro
• Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife
• Institute of Applied Ecology
• Metpro
• nghEnvironmental
• Perisher Range Resorts Environmental Management System
• Perisher Resorts Chamber of Commerce
• Power Saving Solutions
• Rehabilitation Guideline for Kosciuszko National Park
• ThinkEco
• Thredbo Historical Society

Dr Karma Tshring, Chief Forestry Officer Eco-tourism & Recreation from Bhutan attended the forum and accepted a cheque towards the Bhutan Power Switch Program, the 2011 forum’s carbon offset project. This contribution will supply in-need organisations like monasteries and underprivileged schools, electrical goods like rice cookers allowing these institutions to use renewable hydro-electricity rather than burning other more carbon intense fuels like timber for cooking, reducing the use of forest materials. Mr Tshring hoped that this would become a regular carbon offset project for the forum.

Sponsors

OEH wish to thank the following sponsors for financial contributions to the 2011 Alpine Resorts Sustainability Forum.

Enquiries about the forum please contact 2011sustainability.forum@environment.nsw.gov.au