Businesses encouraged towards sustainability

BARNEY Swan has completed a South Pole expedition using only renewable energy and is now playing a significant role in restoring parts of the Daintree Rainforest.

He’s a champion for sustainability but refreshingly his expectations of others are more realistic.

The ClimateForce CEO was a facilitator at “The Sustainability Story” – a Do It In Douglas event held for small businesses operators at the Douglas Community Hall on May 23.

Mr Swan said the session was about including people, from all walks of life, in a collaborative sustainability discussion.

“Sometimes the conversation of sustainability can be very polarizing,” he said.

“But it’s not about making people feel silly for where they’re at; whether they’re using a big diesel tractor or maybe still using single-use plastics or maybe don’t have any solar panels on the roof of their business.

“Instead, it’s about encouraging diversification and making it fun and exciting. And bringing everyone on board whether you’re a student, a business, a business owner, or just a stay-athome parent.”

Mr Swan said the Douglas Shire had an opportunity to strengthen its reputation as a sustainable region – and deliver more employment and training opportunities - given its relatively small population.

“We’ve only got 14,000 people in the shire, and it just makes it, in my mind, a little bit easier to build that trust compared to the likes of Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne.

“As a regional shire, I think we really can get the community on board.

“The Do It In Douglas event was a unique opportunity to bring together the private and public sector and fundamentally just drive forward a really trustworthy story.”

Ecotourism Australia also conducted 1-on-1 consultations with businesses following the breakfast to present their new offering – the Strive 4 Sustainability Scorecard (co-founded by Tourism Australia) and to meet with nature-based operators for their accreditation program.

*Douglas Shire was the first eco-certified destination with Ecotourism Australia.

“The bipartisan support for the “Path to Treaty” bill was also significant. An inquiry into colonisation will help provide a new narrative for Australians.

“And the regional sitting proved a memorable experience for students (some of which who travelled from the Douglas Shire) who witnessed the dynamic environment of Question Time.”

Cr Kerr held a series of meetings with MPs during the visit and delivered the opening address at an event with Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development, the

Honourable Di Farmer.

“Given May was Queensland Small Business Month, it did seem fitting for all of us to be talking about the local operators who keep our economy ticking along and the importance of training and skills development”, Cr Kerr said.

‘We like to think our region is pulling its weight when it comes to a buoyant Queensland economy and hope to continue our positive relationship with the State Government, with collaboration the key to taking skills and development to the next level.”