Sweet future for rooftop hives
Mark Ansell’s job title has blossomed from a mere chief engineer at Pullman Reef Hotel Casino to rooftop beekeeper and hydroponic farmer.
Honey Providore owner Graham Thornton set up two hives with 10,000 bees apiece on the hotel’s rooftop.
Mr Ansell and engineering supervisor Les Gawley came up with the concept as part of the casino’s Planet 21 program with AccorHotels – an initiative to boost sustainability.
Mr Thornton (above right with Mr Ansell) hoped the casino’s high-altitude honey mill would be the first of many across hotels in Cairns.
MARK Ansell’s job title has blossomed from a mere chief engineer at Pullman Reef Hotel Casino to rooftop beekeeper and hydroponic farmer.
Honey Providore owner Graham Thornton set up two hives with 10,000 bees apiece on the hotel’s rooftop, with queens Bernadette and Bellissa maintaining a tight leash on their honey-producing swarms.
Mr Ansell and engineering supervisor Les Gawley came up with the concept as part of the casino’s Planet 21 program with AccorHotels – an initiative to boost sustainability.
“We decided to put the hydroponics and the bees up on the rooftop, to be a leader in the field,” Mr Ansell said.
“Our aim is to provide sustainable honey for our restaurant, Tamarind Restaurant, and the hydroponics will also go to the kitchen for part of the herbs supply.”
The goal is to have about 10 hives with views over Trinity Inlet to produce enough honey to meet the chefs’ needs and leave a small complimentary bottle in each hotel room.
The hydroponics set-up is similarly poised for expansion.
“Once we get proof of concept and it’s working, our aim is to use as much roof space as we can,” Mr Ansell said.
Mr Thornton, who has buckled down on his beekeeping enterprise since resigning as Cairns Jockey Club CEO in 2015, hoped the casino’s highaltitude honey mill would be the first of many across hotels in Cairns and further afield.
“We’re on the frontline for biosecurity for the whole country,” he said.
“Australia is the only country without verroa mite, but we have Asian bees, which are endemic in the region and are the host to the verroa mite.
“Hives like this and other initiatives being undertaken in the region certainly help to extend and ensure the sustainability of honey bees and our food future.”