Part 3 - Australian Alps National Parks

small commercial lodges to work towards environmental improvements without needing to investresources in the development of individual systems or procedures.The Lodge Workbook is a creative way of helping lodges recognise areas where they may be causingenvironmental impacts, and has been designed to change the behaviour of stakeholders in the resort sothat the way they do business presents less risk to the environment.The Lodge Workbook includes a separate chapter for each of the 12 environmental objectives. It hasspaces for lodges to identify how they control environmental issues, and provides useful prompts andideas for lodges that do not have a good understanding of the environmental risks posed by theiroperations. In this way, lodges can either use the workbook to demonstrate to NPWS that they are takingresponsibility for the environment, and they can use it as a tool to help them become more sustainable.By filling out the workbook and undertaking the activities as directed, lodges will be able to plan,document, measure and evaluate their environmental performance. In future years, lodges will be able tocompare their performance to the environmental performance of the resort as a whole.The workbook will also help lodges identify and manage some of the environmental risks associated withtheir business, and achieve and maintain compliance with relevant environmental requirements.The Lodge Workbook is an innovative and practical solution for managing the cumulative environmentalimpacts of small businesses and organisations in the Resort.ConclusionThe Perisher Range Resorts place-based EMS is an example of how all stakeholders at a single tourismdestination have worked together to produce an innovative and comprehensive system for managing theirenvironmental impacts. NPWS and URS are confident that the EMS will greatly benefit both the healthof the tourism industry in the area as well as Kosciuszko National Park.The Perisher Range EMS will help NPWS and stakeholder meet the following goals: Reduced environmental impacts, and protection of the resources upon which the long-term viability of thetourism industry depends; Increased efficiency and reduced operating costs through conservation of resources; Clear setting of priorities and allocation of resources; Identification and prioritisation of environmental issues, based on a risk assessment approach. Competitive advantage through the ability to market products as sustainable. For instance the PerisherRange EMS is consistent with certification systems such as Green Globe; Achievement of a significant development consent condition; and Improved relationship between government and stakeholders.We believe the development of place-based management systems for tourism destinations is potentiallyan excellent way forward for the tourism industry. Many tourism destinations may profit both financiallyand environmentally from the implementation of comprehensive and tailored environmental managementsystems.The commitment made by the tourism industry and government to move forward sustainably is embodiedin the Perisher Range Resorts common environmental Vision Statement, which concludes this paper:‘The Perisher Range Resorts will be widely recognised for the exemplaryenvironmental management of the area’s natural, cultural, aesthetic and socialvalues in the national park setting, and for sustainable, recreation-relateddevelopment that respects, conserves, enhances and restores those values’.Celebrating Mountains – An International Year of Mountains ConferenceJindabyne, New South Wales, Australia267