The Mount Beachside Holiday Park has topped its gold sustainability award with a platinum award as part of the ‘Instep' Carbon and Sustainability reporting programme.

Instep enables businesses to identify key greenhouse gas emission sources, set a baseline and then work towards reducing overall emissions.

The Mount Holiday Park has been awarded a top sustainability award.

Platinum is the highest award available through Instep, it follows the holiday park's gold award last year and has taken five committed years to reach this status.

'We are delighted to have been able to make a significant reduction to our emissions and reduce the operating costs of the holiday park at the same time,” says the holiday park's team leader Mark Hales.

'It has also been great to demonstrate our respect for the natural environment we are fortunate to enjoy and share with our visitors.”

Typical types of activities at the holiday park that generate emissions include electricity use for the office, cabins, kitchens, etc., petrol and diesel use for equipment and waste production.

A total emission reduction of 14 per cent has been achieved against the original baseline in 2010/11. Activities undertaken to support this reduction include:

*Improving waste separation and diversion from landfill

*Installing a giant worm farm to divert organic waste from landfill

*Installing low flow taps and shower devices to conserve water

*Installing a solar PV system on the office building

*Replacing diesel powered vehicles with solar charged carts

The holiday park plans to continue monitoring its emissions and seek further improvement opportunities.