Campground with a difference opens
A township of 200 people near Queenstown is leading the world of sustainable guest accommodation.
The first camp ground built according to Living Building Challenge – Camp Glenorchy – opened its doors on Tuesday.
Owners Paul and Debbi Brainerd saw Glenorchy was attracting more young people and tourists who needed affordable accommodation.
They wanted to give back to the community and the land.
The campground was designed using innovative systems and energy-efficient and recycled building materials, including wood from post-quake Christchurch.
The composting toilets were expected to save about 300,000 litres of water per year. LED lighting for each three-bedroom cabin uses the same energy as a single 200-watt light bulb.
Their heating system came from used ground-source heat pumps, deep heat bores and solar thermal collectors and saved almost $4 of energy for every $1 spent running it.
More than 100 people helped with the Camp Glenorchy project, most from Glenorchy. ‘‘A lot of people just showed up and started helping us,’’ Debbie Brainerd said.
On his last day as a politician, Bill English attended the opening ceremony, acknowledging the importance of small New Zealand communities thriving.
He said the owners were ‘‘digging up the diamonds’’ in sourcing materials, staff and sustainable ideas.
‘‘It’s a huge opportunity for a small community. And who knew it would be a bunch of tech heads from Seattle who knew how to do it,’’ he said.
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult said the business protected and enhanced the area’s landscape.
The council’s building consent department was ‘‘thoroughly impressed’’ with the work, he said.
Camp Glenorchy manager Peter Kerr said the opening was a new beginning for the ‘‘entire world’’.
‘‘It’s the first zero-energy hospitality operation in the world – it’s phenomenal.
‘‘A small town like Glenorchy can lead the way in sustainable future,’’ he said.
The new campground created 16 jobs, 13 of which were filled by locals. It also created six new businesses.
Camp Glenorchy was the old Kiwi camping experience ‘‘stepped up a notch’’.
Kerr said he was already overwhelmed with interest in winter bookings.
‘‘Corporate retreats, wedding anniversaries and family gatherings – it’s been fantastic.’’