Valley to start green journey

By Kath Gannaway
INTERNATIONAL climate and social change advocate Peter Malcolm will deliver the keynote address at the Yarra Valley Green Tourism Conference later this month.
The Yarra Valley & The Dandenongs Marketing (TYVTDM) and TarraWarra Estate are hosting the one day conference on 17 October at TarraWarra Estate in Healesville.
The event will bring together a world class line-up of speakers including TarraWarra Estate winemaker Clare Halloran, The Body Shop CEO Polly Caldow and Richard Patterson from Cool Change Natural Spring Water.
“Each speaker will share their journey on how they are changing their business practices and culture to be more energy neutral and environmentally sustainable,” said Heidi Crundwell, YVTDM communications co-ordinator.
Mr Malcolm said the aim of the conference was to inspire delegates and give them the confidence to start a journey towards minimising their impact on the environment.
“We hope to inspire local businesses by providing hard information from the case studies presented and give them the confidence to make a start,” Mr Malcolm said.
“We’re going to share the mistakes as well as the triumphs we’ve made along the way.”
Ms Crundwell said the conference would be of particular appeal to business owners and operational staff from all sectors of the tourism, wine, food and agribusiness industries in the Yarra Valley and The Dandenong Ranges.
Following the conference delegates have been invited to watch Stage 5 of the Jayco Herald Sun Tour, a 16.2km individual time trial to be hosted by TarraWarra Estate on the same day commencing at 1pm. Phone 5962 7000 to book or for further information.