Pyramid Holiday Park on Kennedy Drive in Tweed Heads West is leading the way in implementing water savings and has taken advantage of Council’s recent offer of $5000 to implement a water saving project through the Top 20 program.
With 60 new four-star rated cisterns and pans being installed to replace older style single flush toilets, the expected water savings will be about 1.2 million litres per year or about 60 backyard swimming pools.
Council’s Demand Management Program Leader Elizabeth Seidl said this also amounts to dollar savings, a win for the environment and a boost in the business’s green credentials.
“An old-style single-flush toilet could use up to 12 litres of water per flush, while a standard dual flush toilet uses just a quarter of this on a half-flush,” Ms Seidl said.
Pyramid Holiday Park Manager Gwenda Byrne said: “The offer of $5000 from Council and the support and advice, really motivated us to get moving and has allowed us to make headway on improving water savings.”
Pyramid Holiday Park is also participating in the Gold Gumnuts program, an environmental initiative from the Caravan & Camping Industry Association of NSW (CCIA) which offers a progressive rating scheme for the caravan and camping industry including CCIA’s holiday and tourist park members.
To achieve Gumnut Award recognition participants must meet strict objectives and prove continued commitment across ten areas of sustainability. Pyramid Holiday Park has achieved their Bronze, Silver and Gold Gumnut Awards and this water savings opportunity will assist them to continue to meet their environmental goals.
Through the Top 20 program, Council is working in partnership with high water use businesses in the Tweed Shire to assist them to adopt more efficient water use practices. Council has contacted and met with all of the shire’s Top 20 businesses and some exciting water savings projects are expected in coming months.
“Businesses who wish to start a water saving project through the Tweed’s Top 20 will receive a free water assessment, support, promotion opportunities and financial assistance of up to $5000,” Ms Seidl said.
“The partnerships will have many potential benefits for participating businesses including saving money, water, energy and the environment.
“By adopting a few simple changes to cut water use, businesses will automatically reduce their water, sewer, liquid trade waste and power bills and help protect our environment and our way of life.”
Council’s Demand Management Strategy shows that the top 20 high water using businesses have traditionally consumed a combined total of 590 Megalitres each year – that’s 236 Olympic swimming pools each year.
The non-residential sector includes commercial and industrial businesses such as clubs, caravan parks, office buildings, schools and shopping centres. These businesses use approximately a quarter of all town water used.
For more information about Tweed’s Top 20 go to Council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/TweedTop20/Default.aspx.
