A boutique backpacker resort is setting the standard for sustainable practices, with a Queensland-first initiative.
Bounce Noosa has launched the state’s first electric minibus, as part of its shuttle service for guests.
Guests will be able to explore the sights of the Noosa region, which is a designated biosphere reserve, with zero tailpipe emissions, thanks to the Joylong E6, the first of its generation to hit the streets of Queensland.
Director of Bounce Noosa Mark Baldwin said they were dedicated to protecting the environment.
“We began researching this particular EV over 18 months ago, before it was even available in Australia but it is here now and we are pleased to provide shuttle services for our guests,” he said.
“As a local owner-operator with a young team servicing predominantly the youth market, the commitment to sustainable practices is crucial.
“We live and breathe it, so much so that we are always in search of what else we can be doing to better ourselves in this space.
“We are very lucky to have our General Manager, Kerry Anderson, championing our sustainable journey.
“With a genuine passion for waste-free sustainable living, Kerry does not accept anything less than the best sustainable practices which is so valuable to our brand.”
Bus sales and service provider Bus Stop delivered the vehicle to Bounce Noosa.
The company’s director Peter White was pleased to be involved.
“We are delighted to have been able to deliver Queensland’s first Electric Minibus to the team at Bounce Noosa,” he said.
In a four-hour window, the van’s 86.1kWh liquid-cooled battery can be charged to capacity in house, providing 300kms of emission free travel for up to 12 guests at a time.
Featuring a 37.26kW solar system exported to the grid, Bounce Noosa has an estimated annual production of 59.967MWh.
The shuttle service was expected to provide a clean and sustainable travel option for about 30,000 travellers per year, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 16.7 tonne per annum, while helping to ease traffic congestion around Noosa.
The Chair of Zero Emissions Noosa Inc, Anne Kennedy, said the mini-bus would make a significant difference.
“Congratulations to Bounce Noosa for introducing their emissions free shuttle service,” she said.
“It’s a great step forward in helping to reduce the 33 per cent of Noosa region’s emissions that come from transport.
“It’s a great example of how local tourism businesses are doing their bit to reduce emissions and help reach the Noosa region target of net zero greenhouse gases by 2026.”
Bounce Noosa is an award-winning resort that provides a unique combination of deluxe hotel suites and premium shared rooms ideally suited to groups, couples and solo travellers.
Located one block from the Noosa River Foreshore, the purpose-built property was designed and constructed with the natural environment and energy efficiency front of mind.
With cross ventilation orientation, the beach-club style resort utilises the natural environment to minimise the energy needed for heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting year round.
Bounce Noosa continues to achieve Plastic Free Noosa Champion status for the accommodation category with a number of environmentally focused initiatives implemented as standard operating procedure since opening its doors in 2021.
From paper-free operations, refillable glass milk bottles, guest waste sorting and recycling facilities to an on-site mini orchard available to guests seeking fresh local fruit and ingredients to use in the bar and kitchen, sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics are just some of the environmentally-friendly initiatives in place at Bounce Noosa.
Tourism Noosa’s Head of Tourism Sustainability and Program Design, Juanita Terry-Bloomfield, lauded the commitment of staff there.
“The extensive sustainable efforts of Mark and his team are commendable, particularly the elimination of 66,000 single-use amenity bottles and wrappers from circulation as a result of the refillable amenity strategy at Bounce Noosa. That’s just in the first 10 months of operation,” she said.
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