Over the last few years, there has been a steady increase in the popularity of camping in Australia, which has had a detrimental impact on the natural environment at the more frequented sites. Broad negative environmental impacts that occur as a result of unsustainable practices and localised damage of natural environments due to recreational use are both issues of concern.

I decided to try and tackle this issue. I love camping and felt it was an appropriate challenge to take on. I needed to find a way to make campsites well-structured, environmentally friendly and sustainable. I want to ensure they will be around for years of continued use with minimal impact. I began investigating different aspects of this issue to develop a campsite that addressed environmental impacts holistically.

I have designed a sustainable campsite ‘system’. I achieved this by creating a site that reduces the impacts on the surroundings during daily use and incorporating environmentally-friendly technologies and practices. I have addressed the site’s input and output issues like power generation, water capture and use, and waste disposal to reduce the involvement of outside services and make the site as self-sufficient as possible. I have utilised solar panels, water tanks, thermal heating and other features to facilitate this outcome. In creating this solution, I also hope to educate people on the importance of sustainability and caring for the environment when camping.