The State Government has committed $30 million in funding to deliver infrastructure on Great Keppel Island that will, "to the greatest extent possible, support additional investment on GKI" (Queensland Government).

This $30m commitment was intended to provide the new and upgraded infrastructure that is critical to safety and access for passengers and residents on the island, support current business operators and attract new investment to "revitalise" the former resort site. The Queensland Government has recognised that without their $30m commitment to public, common user infrastructure, the project does not make a return on the capital invested by any developer of the resort. 

The current contracted proponent, Altum Property Group, have proposed building an eco friendly resort designed for CQ families that will be self-sustaining for power, water and waste management, creating thousands of jobs and career paths for our community with local produce grown via regenerative farming practices. The project is forecast to add $200m annually to the Central Queensland economy.

The GKI Progress Association has asked if Council would consider writing to the Tourism, Innovation and Sport Minister to endorse a list of strategic, project enabling public infrastructure on the island to support the development of Stage One and Two public, Common User Infrastructure. 

This list includes:

• transport infrastructure incorporating a breakwall, barge ramp and ferry terminal;
• roads;
• power and sewerage treatment plant, and 
• cleaning up the large amounts of rubbish on the island estimated at costing more than $1m;
• establishing sustainable water and power solutions and
• emergency services improvements. 

The total cost is approximately $46 million with the Queensland Government committing $30 million and Altum committing $16 million.

Council has proposed a list which contains walking and 4WD trails, interperative signage, shade and other leisure structures. Building this type of infrastruture does not not faciliatate any future development on the island and will instead spend the tax-payer money set aside to attract investment in the re-development on works which would be completed anyway by the developer during the resort re-build or earlier with work completed by local residents.

IF COUNCIL CHOOSES TO SUPPORT WALKING TRAILS INSTEAD OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GKI, THE REBUILDING OF THE GKI RESORT WILL NOT GO AHEAD, WITH ALTUM OR ANY OTHER DEVELOPER.