Novotel to open luxury conference resort in Victoria

In March 2008, the Novotel Forest Resort Creswick will not only become Victoria's newest and most luxurious conference resort - it will also become Australia's first drought-proof, year round, green resort.

Situated on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range and surrounded by over one million trees in the Creswick State Forest, the Resort lies amidst precious natural resources which developers are determined to sustain.

Hotel General Manager Philip Johnson says the Forest Resort developers are to be applauded for their design strategy and approach to the areasis environmental sensitivity.

"Resort development often occurs to the detriment of the land, however in this case stringent guidelines were put in place at the start to protect native vegetation as well as carry out long term replanting programs"said Mr Johnson.

As we all must learn to live with drought in our everyday lives, developers ensured that the Resort would be water self-sufficient by designing and constructing Australia's first privately owned water treatment plant,he said.

This EPA approved state-of-the-art system treats, polishes and recycles all of the Resort's grey and black water for residences use. The plant also polishes harvested water from its lagoon catchment and treats all raw sewerage to better than class A standard for irrigation use on the golf course and surrounding landscape gardens.

Long term, the polished water also holds massive potential not only for Forest Resort but also the Creswick community.

In addition, the Resort has incorporated a number of wildlife lagoons with a specialised pumping system which has provided a welcome haven, during the extended drought, for increased numbers of native wildlife and birds.

Philip Johnson concedes that using a water treatment plant to promote a conference facility may seem a little left field.

"We know that not everyone will love it like we do, however we do know that the conference and event industry is more conscious of the environment and organisers want to do what they can to minimise their events impact on the planet" he said.

Whether it is carbon neutral exhibitions or green conferences, the industry is getting involved more and more in protecting the environment and a regional resort such as ours must be ecologically sustainable to meet their needs.

"Our philosophy of living lightly on the land complements the green policies embraced by many organisations and the Novotel Forest Resort Creswick can offer an environmentally responsible resort that not only fulfills all conference requirements, but does so whilst protecting the landscape on which it is built" said Mr Johnson.

The Novotel Hotel is part of the $250 million Forest Resort development which includes a residential community and fishing village. A Health and Wellness Centre will open later in 2008 and a par 72 championship golf course will be playable by invitation only in the first six months whilst developers continue to responsibly manage the Resorts water resources.

For more information, visit Forestresort.com.au.