Emirates' Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is not only the first carboNZero©™ certified hotel in the world, but also the first carbon neutral resort in the world to be certified through an internationally accredited greenhouse gas programme. With over 175,000 indigenous plants already planted in the valley, the carbon-neutral certification is just one amongst many conservation initiatives, intended to provide its guests a world of luxury, at no cost to the environment.
Emirates Hotels & Resorts is committed to protecting endangered Australian flora and fauna, and has extensively planted native plant species in key areas, to restore the valley's natural balance and beauty. This includes the reintroduction of the previously Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis), which belongs to the 200 million year old plant family, Araucariaceae. Following its discovery in a nearby canyon in 1994, this delicate tree has become one of the most exciting botanical finds of the century. The significance of its discovery has been compared to the equivalent of finding a live dinosaur in the present time.
The resort is designed to be sensitive to its surroundings
The design and construction of Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa incorporated many green building principles, including the use of solar power and heat recovery - as well as the extensive use of recycled building materials already present on site, including such items as old timbers from a disused bridge, old rock and building stone, and even the thousands of old original steel fencing posts. The resort has contracted its electricity supplier to mandate that 35% of its electrical supply is sourced from renewable energy sources in the region.
To further reduce its environmental impact and to support local businesses, the resort is committed to sourcing regional and seasonal food and supplies, all from within a 160 km radius.
