How SWIRL is helping protect a vulnerable penguin colony
With more than half a million visitors arriving in northwest Tasmania each year, and tourism growing six to eight percent over the past three years, we recognise the important role we play in helping protect a local penguin colony in Stanley that is increasingly at risk.
The colony, once thriving, has seen numbers decline as visitor pressure grows. To help turn the tide, we’ve partnered with Parks Tasmania, Wildcare Tasmania and Friends of Stanley Penguins, joining a passionate group of local volunteers who have spent years protecting the coastline.
Together, we’ve introduced a dedicated bottle recycling station at our venue, giving our guests and the local community an easy way to support conservation efforts. Every bottle recycled helps fund important work and reduces waste near the penguins’ habitat.
Our Aquatic Services Coordinator, Zalia Gorringe, says our team felt compelled to act.
“When we heard how quickly the penguin numbers were dropping, we knew we couldn’t sit on the sidelines,” she says. “This is our community, and we can’t let the local wildlife suffer.”
Our Duty Manager and Green Team Leader, Helen Buckley, says the initiative is helping bring the community together.
“People want to help, they just need an easy way to do it,” she says. “What I love about this project is that it turns an everyday action into something that directly protects our wildlife.”
The new recycling station is also sparking important conversations about how we, alongside our visitors and the wider community, can balance tourism with environmental care, something our Venue Manager, Herath Pitawala, says is long overdue.
“Tourism is great for our region, but it can’t come at the cost of the animals that make this place special,” he says. “If we can generate discussion and inspire more venues to take action, that’s a win.”
Alexia Morgan, General Manager Environment and Sustainability, says:
““I’m thrilled that the SWIRL team have stepped up to take on this challenge in Tasmania. Protecting local wildlife is a step in the right direction, reflecting Belgravia Leisure’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability.”
SWIRL is a great example of how local partnerships can make a real difference in protecting some of Tasmania’s most cherished wildlife.”
