How one of Australia’s most famous resort islands was seized by the government after it was abandoned and left to rot owing nearly a million dollars in rent
- Abandoned island resort seized by QLD government
- Resort owners, Tower Holdings, owe $878,000 in rent
A resort on one of Australia’s most picturesque tropical islands that has been abandoned for almost a decade-and-a-half has been seized by the state government.
The resort on Great Keppel Island off the coast of Rockhampton, Queensland was taken over by the Queensland Government on Friday with owner, Tower Holdings, owing $878,000 in rent.
The former holiday destination has fallen into a state of ruin since being left abandoned in 2008, with once popular hotel rooms and entertainment areas now dilapidated.
The government plans to replace the facility with a new resort and is starting to consult with the community to develop master plans.
The seizure comes after a 12-month inquiry into the state of numerous island resorts across the Great Barrier Reef.
The dilapidated Great Keppel Island Resort (pictured) has been seized by the Queensland Government with owners, Tower Holdings, owing $878,000 in rent
‘The community has a strong vision for Great Keppel Island,’ Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.
The resort must ‘enable tourism through resolving the longstanding challenges with attracting investment on the island’, Mr Miles said.
‘To clean up the footprint of the deserted old resort, and to reinvigorate tourist activities that are environmentally friendly and respectful of the cultural heritage of the island,’ Mr Miles said.
‘Revoking the lease is the next step in the process.’
Tower Holding’s inability to uphold its financial obligations led to the state’s resources minister, Scott Stewart, calling the fate of the resort ‘disappointing’.
‘Our islands are natural assets that we want Queenslanders to be able to enjoy as part of our great lifestyle,’ he said.
‘As a government we are committed to the responsible development of our island resorts for the jobs and business opportunities they create in regional Queensland.’
The resort has been left abandoned since 2008, leaving once popular entertainment areas and hotel rooms crumbling or inhabited by wild animals (pictured)
The move comes after a 12-month inquiry into a number of abandoned island resorts across the Great Barrier Reef (pictured, Great Keppel Island)
Local MP, Brittany Lauga, said the community has been fighting to restore the resort for several years.
Interest in purchasing the resort to oversee its renovations came from numerous parties, including Hancock Prospecting and Gina Rinehart.
‘Ultimately, when Hancock Prospecting decided to not acquire the lease in 2022 it was obvious that something had to change,’ Ms Luga said.
‘Which is why I’ve worked so hard to ensure that the lease holder has been held to account.’
When contacted by local media in March this year about outstanding rent, a spokesperson for Tower Holdings, an Australian property group, said that ‘Tower Holdings advised that GKI Resort Pty Ltd has paid millions of dollars in rent to the state over the last 15 years and that they continue to work proactively with the state on the project’.
