Crown land holiday parks implement sustainability initiatives

Crown land holiday park manager Reflections Holidays has teamed with sustainable fishing charity OzFish to launch a sustainable catch and release fishing series.

Three angling competitions will be held at holiday parks with $25,000 in prizes and a firm focus on protecting waterways for future generations.

The Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series kicks offs at Reflections Copeton Waters (Series 1: November 1-3, 2024), proceeds to Reflections Burrinjuck Waters (Series 2: March 21-23, 2025), and concludes at Reflections Lake Keepit (Series 3: May 16-18, 2025).

All profits from entry fees will be allocated by OzFish, the only fishing conservation charity in Australia, to restore fish habitat in the local catchment areas.

Reflections Holidays manages holiday parks on Crown land across the state including at popular dam and lake fishing locations including Copeton, Keepit, Burrinjuck and more.

Fishing is a highly popular recreational activity and the initiative with OzFish will be driven by recreational fishers and volunteers who work with communities and other organisations to protect and restore fish habitats.

Meanwhile, Reflections Holidays is implementing energy-saving and sustainable initiatives at its 40 Crown land holiday parks to become a low carbon holiday destination.

Rous County Council of Lismore has named Reflections as a leader in its Sustainable Water Partner Program after eight holiday parks between Evans Head and Brunswick Heads saved up to 8.9 million litres each year– the equivalent of almost four Olympic swimming pools – by targeting leakage issues, installing water-saving shower fittings and digital water meters.

Other sustainability initiatives include a Revolving Sustainability Fund (RSF) with an initial investment of $2.1 million towards sustainability programs. In FY24, about $650,000 in savings across electricity, gas and water at parks will be reinvested in the RSF, which increases annually as more sustainability projects bring new cost savings.

Also, solar panels and data-monitoring devices are being installed in parks to monitor and reduce energy use.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said Reflections Holidays is the only holiday group in Australia that is a certified social enterprise.

“I congratulate Reflections Holiday Parks on its sustainability initiatives which are reducing power costs and environmental waste while driving innovation at NSW's Crown land holiday parks,” Mr Kamper said.

“Reflections offers nature-based holidays at some of the state's most beautiful locations and reinvests its profits back into the parks and Crown reserves it manages to contribute positively to regional communities across the state.”