Queensland island resort 'closes its doors'

• The picture postcard setting of the pool at
Great Keppel Island Resort, as it appeared
during my last visit several years ago.

Another Queensland icon dies this week - namely Great Keppel Island Resort, located 12km off the central Queensland coast between Yeppoon and Emu Park. Remember when we all used to get wrecked over there? Well - no more! Just sweet memories!
The resort will close to the public on February 25 to make way for a new luxury resort.
The Resort's owners had been planning a significant renovation to the existing resort but have now announced that a refurbishment wouldn’t do the island justice and that a complete rebuild of a new luxury resort was the only way to move forward.
A new luxury resort will be constructed from the ground up in order to meet the holiday demands of discerning international and domestic visitors.
They said by developing a superior product, it is anticipated that a new resort will assist in bringing a new top-end market to the region, clearly a market that can be sustained with the Capricorn Coast’s current growth.
Research presented to senior management showed that many people still view Great Keppel as a party island and that the tagline “Get Wrecked on Keppel” still resonates.
Great Keppel Island is quite beautiful, spanning over 1400 hectares. It boasts 17 pristine beaches and an abundance of natural features. The future plans for the Resort will be to create something unique, luxurious and truly special - that's good news.
Plans for the new development will be submitted to the newly amalgamated Rockhampton/Livingstone Council within the next 12 weeks, and if approved, construction of the new resort is anticipated to commence in early 2009.
Holidaymakers with existing bookings will receive full refunds or offered an alternative holiday option at a resort of similar quality to Great Keppel Island. All of the island’s 110 staff will receive redundancy payments and assistance with placements into alternative positions.