Pictured left to right: Zalia Gorringe, Aquatic Services Coordinator and Helen Buckley, Duty Manager and SWIRL Green Team Leader.
With more than half a million visitors arriving in northwest Tasmania each year and tourism growing six to eight percent over the last three years, Smithton Wellbeing Indoor Recreation & Leisure (SWIRL) is stepping in to help protect a local penguin colony in Stanley that’s increasingly at risk.
The colony, once thriving, has seen numbers fall as visitor pressure grows. To help turn the tide, SWIRL has partnered with Parks Tasmania, Wildcare Tasmania and Friends of Stanley Penguins, joining a passionate group of local volunteers who have spent years protecting the coastline.
Together, the partnership has introduced a dedicated bottle recycling station at the venue, giving guests and locals an easy way to help fund the reduction of waste near the colony’s habitat. Every bottle recycled helps fund conservation work and reduces waste.
Aquatic Services Coordinator Zalia Gorringe says the team felt compelled to act.
“When we heard how quickly the penguin numbers were dropping, we knew we couldn’t sit on the sidelines,” she says. “This is our community and we can’t let the local wildlife suffer.”
Helen Buckley, Duty Manager and Green Team Leader, says the initiative is helping bring the community together.
“People want to help, they just need an easy way to do it,” she says. “What I love about this project is that it turns an everyday action into something that directly protects our wildlife.”
The new station is also sparking important conversations about how communities, leisure venues and visitors can balance tourism with environmental care, something Herath Pitawala, Venue Manager at SWIRL says is long overdue.
“Tourism is great for our region, but it can’t come at the cost of the animals that make this place special,” he says. “If we can generate debate and inspire more venues to take action, that’s a win.”
Alexia Morgan, General Manager Environment and Sustainability, said:
“I’m thrilled that the SWIRL team have stepped up to take on this challenge in Tasmania. Protecting local wildlife is a step in the right direction, reflecting Belgravia Leisure’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability.
SWIRL shows how local partnerships can make a real difference in environmental impact to protect some of Tasmania’s most adorable locals.
Find out more about Belgravia Leisure’s approach to sustainability here.
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