Great Keppel Island Resort Update

Posted on April 26th, 2023

Last Friday, the State Government announced that leases held by Tower Holdings for Great Keppel Island have been revoked due to non-payment of lease fees.

Capricorn Enterprise, as the region’s peak tourism and economic development organisation has been a strong advocate for Great Keppel Island and its many tourism operators over the years, but was not surprised by this latest news.

Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll said “The decision by the state government to rescind the Tower Holdings leases effectively means, that 2013 approval for a new resort on Great Keppel Island is gone too.”

“The conditions surrounding the scale of the Tower Holdings development approval proved to be too onerous and complex, with Sunshine Coast’s Altum property group coming the closest to proving their management capability in the FMCA (financial management capability assessment) process with the state government.”

Ms Carroll said “Capricorn Enterprise and our existing accommodation and tour experiences on and to Great Keppel Island have worked very hard to provide positive visitor experiences to this magnificent island on the southern Great Barrier Reef, experiencing year on year growth over the past decade, despite the many challenges we have faced.”

“Our existing industry needs to be supported, with access to the island consistently raised as the number one issue so we are relying upon the state government to now provide the way forward with some form of jetty or floating pontoon and break wall for our passenger ferries, now that the marina approval is null and void.”

“We have pro-actively engaged in the GKI Master Planning reference group process with the state government and stakeholders over the past eighteen months and look forward to its release for public comment as soon as possible, so that new opportunities for accommodation development can be realised in the existing footprint of the old resort which was closed in early 2008.”

“If the state government truly has the will to see new accommodation and resort facilities constructed on Great Keppel Island, it (government) could create a special Act of Parliament to enable reconfigurated lots for smaller scale development which is not hamstrung with red and green tape.”

“Ultimately, we need true partnership between all levels of government, industry, community, and traditional custodians of the land to see a way forward which this very special island deserves.”

Member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga MP Media Statement: Lauga eyes bright future for GKI master plan

1 June 2022 Hancock Prospecting backs out Woppa-Great Keppel Island resort development

24 March 2022 Great Keppel Island

16 February 2022 Deputy Premier visits Great Keppel Island

2 November 2021 Great Keppel Island Resort Update

12 October 2021 Great Keppel Island Master Plan survey

24 June 2021 Tourism Minister ground proofs Great Keppel Island

10 February 2021 Great Keppel Island Forum builds momentum

11 November 2020 Altum Property Group’s update on Great Keppel Island resort

2/9/2020 Settlement date for Great Keppel Island lease extended

19/8/20 Great Keppel Island Resort Project Update

1/7/2020 Altum Property Group working hard to proceed with GKI Resort