Great Keppel Island Master plan ignites new era of growth

The Queensland Government has unveiled the blueprint to revive Great Keppel Island (Woppa) as a world-class tourism destination for future generations to enjoy.

Co-designed with the community and key stakeholders, the final concept master plan has a strong focus on unlocking the iconic island’s full tourism potential, generating jobs, and celebrating its rich history and natural environment.

The Great Keppel Island (Woppa) Concept Master Plan outlines the key infrastructure needed to make the island safer, more accessible and support tourism development – benefiting visitors, businesses and the community.

The plan includes opportunities for:

• Sustainable tourism development to attract domestic and international visitors, including new eco resorts and precincts and a village centre.
• Better access around the island with new boardwalks, walking trails and wayfinding signs.
• An enhanced arrival gateway, with options to improve maritime access being investigated.
• Cultural, educational and nature-based experiences to encourage longer stays on the island.
• Infrastructure upgrades, including a new wastewater treatment plant.

The Queensland Government has committed $30 million towards common-user infrastructure on the island off the Capricorn Coast.

Livingstone Shire Council is working with the government to deliver the first piece of work, with $10.1 million committed to build a new wastewater treatment plant and amenities blocks. This is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, subject to a viable business case.

The Queensland Government is also funding technical studies on options to improve maritime access and working with key partners to progress plans for a gateway precinct for visitors and new and upgraded boardwalks and walkways.

The concept master plan identifies the infrastructure needed to drive growth over the long term. While the Queensland Government committed a total of $30 million towards infrastructure, this concept master plan provides a strategic framework to help stakeholders secure private or public sector funding in the future.

A range of local stakeholders, including residents, business owners and operators on or servicing the island, Traditional Owners, the peak tourism body and Livingstone Shire Council, were part of the concept master planning process, which was led by a community Project Reference Group to ensure a shared, community-driven vision.

The Queensland Government received more than 160 pieces of feedback on the draft plan when it was released in July 2023.

At the heart of the plan is protecting the island’s history, cultural values and unique characteristics through sustainable and eco-friendly development, while ensuring the island maintains a strong connection to the history of the land and its Traditional Owners, the Woppaburra People.

Great Keppel Island (Woppa) is considered one of the best development opportunities within the Great Barrier Reef due to its location, exceptional natural environment and access to the coast.

The resort closed in 2008 and the Queensland Government took over the leases in 2023 after a number of commercial negotiations did not progress.

The $30 million investment is comprised of a 2017 Election Commitment of $25 million under the GKI Rejuvenation Fund and a further $5 million under the Building Our Regions Fund to support common-user infrastructure.

See the final Great Keppel Island (Woppa) Concept Master Plan.