The Gumnut Awards Program is an exciting environmental initiative from the Caravan & Camping Industry Association of NSW (CCIA) which offers a progressive rating scheme for CCIA's holiday and tourist park members and manufacturers and dealers of caravans, recreational vehicles and accessories.
Gumnut Award Levels
- Bronze: For a park or business to achieve a Bronze Gumnut Award, their business must satisfy benchmark
criteria from each of the 10 categories listed below. This self-assessment is audited by UWS experts.
- Silver: To achieve a Silver Gumnut Award, park management must develop an integrated Environmental
Management Plan (EMP) and satisfy an additional 20 criteria (over the 10 categories).
- Gold: Attainment of Gold relies on significant progress and monitored outcomes from the EMP, as well as the
development of a further 30 criteria. The UWS team carries out a site inspection before Gold is awarded.
Criteria
To achieve Gumnut Award recognition, holiday parks and manufacturers and suppliers must meet strict objectives and prove continued commitment across ten areas of sustainability:
Holiday and Tourist Parks
- Landscaping
- Water and Waste water
- Solid Waste
- Energy Efficiency
- Air and Noise Pollution
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Economics
- Staff
- Local Community
- Safety and Emergency Response Planning
Manufacturers, Supplier and Dealers
- Site Presentation and Aspect
- Water Conservation
- Water Pollution
- Energy Efficiency
- Air and Noise Pollution
- Solid Waste
- Responsible Business Practices
- Work Practices
- Local Community
- Safety and Emergency Response Planning
History
Launched in 2002, the Gumnut Awards are based on the Professor David Bellamy Conservation Awards in the UK and developed by the CCIA in partnership with the University of Western Sydney (UWS).
The program aims to protect and reflect the uniqueness of the Australian environment and culture. Participation in the program benefits not just the business and park operators, it benefits everyone involved; park visitors, holidaymakers, customers, residents, staff, the community and the environment will all be winners.