Since the Australian Regional Development Conference was held in September 2016, QUT researchers have been busy working with the renowned resort master planner Mr Paul Ma on new regional tourism developments and refurbishments throughout Australia using the “SymbioResort” design techniques as outlined to delegates at the conference.
A number of greenfield projects are being planned for Tasmania at Burnie and Bridestowe whilst the new owners of existing tourism resorts at Couran Cove and Kooralbyn are exploring the economic, social and environmental benefits of undertaking refurbishments using this new place-based design protocol to help breathe life back into these once dormant facilities. QUT is also investigating a partnership with the Queensland Tourism Industry Council in order to roll out a series of joint “SymbioResort” workshops in North Queensland in the second half of 2017 for existing resort operators in the Great Barrier Reef region given the recent Government announcement that seven out of ten resorts inspected had breached their environmental license conditions and therefore pose considerable risk to the future well being of this precious jewel in the Queensland tourism industry’s crown.
Review of recent case studies and results to date from live regional tourism development projects has shown that early application of this place-based strategic master planning process in combination with the integrated sustainable design protocol as outlined at the conference can provide significant capital and operating cost benefits to developers and operators whilst providing the host community with improved social and environmental outcomes.
At the same time, this “SymbioResort” development process has put hotel operators back in control of their social media presence whilst delivering a new level of sustainable luxury experience to guests. In essence this process combines the art of nature with the science of mankind to restore the wellness of host land and people whilst making a significant contribution to the growth of regional economies that have been struggling since the decline of the resources boom and are now looking to sustainable tourism developments to help offset the cyclical nature of agribusiness exports.
Dr Neil Thompson
Postgraduate Research Fellow
QUT Institute for Future Environments
[email protected]