Environmental Management System

An Environmental Management System (EMS) provides a framework for assessing the impacts on the environment, for setting and reviewing goals and targets to reduce those impacts, for monitoring environment management performance and for communicating the outcomes.

The two key goals of Perisher's EMS are to

1. identify and minimise any harmful effects on the environment caused by Perisher’s operations; and,
2. to continually improve Perisher's environmental management performance.

Perisher's EMS has been developed with expert assistance and having regard to the EMS developed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for the Perisher Range Resorts. Perisher's EMS is consistent with the requirements of ISO 14001, being the international EMS quality standard. Perisher's Environmental Manager maintains a focus on ensuring the practical implementation, maintenance and development of the EMS.

Each year, progress reporting is provided to the NPWS, which outlines a broad summary of the activities that have been undertaken by Perisher to meet the objectives and targets identified within the EMS. Perisher's continuous improvement program includes;

• regularly reviewing Perisher’s operational activities to ensure all impacts on the environment are recorded, assessed and that effective environmental risk controls are in place;
• setting annual, measurable targets for reducing Perisher’s impact on the environment and closely monitoring progress towards achieving these targets, and;
• regularly reviewing EMS responsibilities, accountabilities, policies and procedures to ensure they are appropriate and effective.

Staff involvement and EMS awareness

For an EMS to be successful a commitment is required from all staff within the organisation. Perisher's permanent and seasonal staff undergo EMS awareness refresher training each year which focuses on a range of issues, including identifying endangered and threatened species, outlining the causes of climate change and the impacts of energy use, informing of Perisher's commitment to renewable energy, emphasising the importance of protecting creeks and streams from pollution and how staff may contribute to Perisher's recycling programs. The presentation also provides practical examples to staff of the actions they can take to minimise environmental impacts.

Perisher’s intranet

The 'environment home page' on Perisher's intranet site is regularly updated allowing staff ready access to Perisher's EMS documents, monitoring and measuring tools, policy and procedures, as well as access to a range of useful environmental information and resources. Importantly, the use of the intranet ensures effective version control and up to date content management of documents.

(read on Energy Use & Climate Change...)