Star Entertainment Group buys farm to help meet net zero target

The Star Entertainment group has bought a 170ha farm near Gympie as its first carbon credits project, where it wants to work with local farmers and restore koala habitat.

(From left) Star Group Head of Sustainability Amanda Visser, Odonata Foundation CEO Sam Marwood, The Star Gold Coast exec chef Uday Huja.

The Star Entertainment Group has bought a 170ha farm at Lower Wonga to help manage its future carbon emissions reduction and to support biodiversity and native forest regeneration.

A statement released by the Star group on Tuesday, February 7, said it would use the land as its first carbon credits project, as well as create a nature-based farm partnering with local farmers and through wide-scale tree planting support endangered species particularly koalas, with new habitat.

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‘The Star Entertainment Group’s Head of Sustainability, Amanda Visser said it took two years to bring the project to life as an extension of its sustainability strategy and will directly bolster the company’s target of net-zero scope 1 and scope 2 carbon emissions for wholly owned and operated properties by 2030,” the statement read.

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“We will be planting over 100,000 native trees over the next five years to not only generate Australian carbon credit units but also to establish a koala sanctuary and create habitats for local, endangered species,” Ms Visser said.

“We have completed initial biodiversity assessments to ensure this regeneration project supports local, native forest cover and we can measure the impact we are having over time.”

The Star Entertainment Group Group Head of Sustainability Amanda Visser at the Lower Wonga property, west of Gympie.

The statement said that supported by the carbon management expertise of Ndevr Environmental, The Star has registered the native tree planting component of the project under the Emissions Reduction Fund.

Noosa Landcare has completed wide-scale soil testing ahead of the first instalment of planting, set to begin in Autumn 2023, while the emissions reduction project is being broadened with guidance from the Odonata Foundation, the architect of this innovative and big-picture approach to environmental sustainability, it said.

“Organisations can use their carbon offset priorities as the driver to do something that adds incredible value to the business, people and communities, with no real additional costs,” Odonata CEO Sam Marwood said.

“The Star Entertainment Group has demonstrated real dedication to innovatively supporting environment and

community, over and above what is required,” he said

“It has been a couple of years of collaborative planning. Along with the strategic and commercial aspects, it’s been outstanding how much engagement there has been on the detailed aspects of the project, like how to select the right trees to attract koalas, how best to help threatened species, improve biodiversity and river health, and work alongside local communities.”

“Working with Odonata has also directed and strengthened our commitment to local farmers and regenerative agriculture by exploring the use of produce grown across the region and on the farm for The Star’s restaurants, bars and hotels,” Ms Viser said.

“The bigger picture is to fully engage our teams in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity education and it’s already creating great interest.”

Star Gold Coast executive chef Uday Huja recently visited the farm and other nearby properties, and said it was “every chef’s dream to have a farm”.

Photo of the property at Lower Wonga the Star group says it has purchased to help meet its net zero target by 2030.

“Having a direct touchpoint from planting to harvesting not only provides endless inspiration but a deep understanding of what is best practice in farming and agriculture and how that directly connects with a culinary product,” he said.

For every hectare The Star operates across its three resorts in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, it will rewild 3ha, and a minimum of 100ha.

The Star’s pathway to its 2030 net-zero target also includes energy efficiency initiatives, onsite solar (where possible) and offsite renewable electricity delivered via Power Purchase Agreements.

The Star Entertainment Group’s Managing Director and CEO, Robbie Cooke said the farm was a further demonstration of The Star’s ambition to develop and operate socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable destinations.

“As an organisation, we’re committed to delivering positive impacts on the communities and cities in which we operate. Corymbia is the evolution of our wider sustainability strategy and will help us achieve our goals,” he said.