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Our Keppel Our Future

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25.01.2022 A magic spot with huge potential. Did we miss our chance? Certainly it would seen the GKI Revitalisation Plan will not proceed, but we continue to support some development on the Island, especially by an Australian investor. GKI should be the tourism and research hub for the Southern Great Barrier Reef. A world class holiday destination for people throughout Central Queensland and beyond. Get the basic amenities to the Island if thats what it takes. Our State and Federal Governments spend billions in the major cities on road changes everyday, and GKI has the potential to change the face of our community. Don't let it be another ghost Island.

25.01.2022 The oldest Keppel Islands reefs are 7700 years old according to a new study. They have continued growing in spite of sea level and climate changes over that tim...e. Read more about the study in our latest post: https://keppels.com.au/keppel-bays-7700-year-old-reefs/ #thekeppelislands #southerngreatbarrierreef #keppel #southerngbr #gbrmpa #capricorncoastviews #GranBancodeBuenaEsperanza #fathomlesslife

25.01.2022 In a media release, Altum flagged that the fire could have been avoided. The leaking of a confidential document, broken promises and months of inaction by politicians and bureaucrats have sounded the death knell for the redevelopment of the resort at Great Keppel Island, it read. The staff accommodation was earmarked for future refurbishment for the Great Keppel Island Revitalisation Project by Altum.... Altum detailed how it met with Livingstone Shire Council on June 30, showing evidence of the increased levels of vandalism and telling the council about what they saw on the island, from coconuts being thrown through glass, fencing cut open and mattresses set on fire. We asked them to lobby the State Government to get construction happening on the island as soon as possible, to provide passive surveillance and protect the remaining assets, Altum director Rob McCready said. Following this we also advised Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Labor Member Brittany Lauga of the vandalism and sent photos of the build-up of burnable rubbish and debris across the old resort footprint. We told them we could be on the island within weeks to set up a construction site, start providing surveillance and prevent further vandalism to the remaining buildings. Despite our pleas and 14 months of negotiations, hundreds of thousands of dollars invested by Altum and massive community goodwill to start the revitalisation project, no agreement to transfer the leases was signed prior to State Government Election caretaker period commencing on October 5, and so no construction began. To add insult to injury, the Department of Tourism sent us an Agreement to sign which would have gagged us from talking to the media for an additional nine months while discussions were held. No small or medium sized business can spend nearly two years sitting around and talking about process. As a family-owned business we can no longer wait for the government to treat the project with the priority status it supposedly has. Mr McCready said Altum was a successful Queensland company with a proven track of co-financing and delivering multi-hundred million dollar projects. We have the experience and capability to complete the project and in accordance with the lease conditions agreed with the government, we have up to three years to demonstrate finance is in place, he said. However, this time period is unlikely to be required, with several significant Australian investors tabling offers to partner with us. Regrettably, in the last six months we have faced constant broken promises about when documentation will be finalised detailing what support GKI will receive from the state government to build the massive amounts of public infrastructure up-front. The torching of buildings is a completely avoidable disgrace, and highlights the abject failure of the State Government to facilitate the revitalisation project.

25.01.2022 If we want to see Great Keppel Island with revitalised accomodation options, now is the time to talk to our local political representatives and those running for government. #supportgki #southerngreatbarrierreef #ourkeppelourfuture https://m.themorningbulletin.com.au//encouraging/4061152/

24.01.2022 NEW POTENTIAL OWNERS FOR GKI RESORT CONFIRMED Sunshine Coast developer Altum Property Group has confirmed that they have entered a conditional contract to comme...nce the sale process of the Great Keppel Island Resort leases. 11 years after the resort closed, Altum is now in negotiations with Tower Holdings and the State Government. Altum Director Rob McCready said in a press release that he believes now is a good time to construct the multi-million dollar hotel and marina. Great Keppel Island is the best island off the Queensland coast with the best beaches, a fantastic climate with half the rainfall of the northern Great Barrier Reef and no stingers. We know that the development of a Resort on Great Keppel Island will largely grow the current numbers of 50,000-day visitors and 30,000 room nights per annum on the Island. The approved development includes a new beachfront hotel, luxury apartments and villas, retail shops, a marina, and a new airstrip. Altum now has to go through a due diligence process before the sale is finalised, but Pat O'Driscoll from Knight Frank who is leading the sale process says that he's been impressed by Altum. It is fair to say that of all the interested parties over the years to purchase Great Keppel Island Resort, Altum has exercised the most thorough due diligence.

22.01.2022 MEDIA RELEASE Altum seeks legal advice over false GKI claims As the election draws closer and in the wake of fires which destroyed 20 staff accommodation units ...on Saturday, concern about Keppel MP Brittany Lauga’s claims regarding Great Keppel Island have caused Altum Property Group to seek legal advice. Claims have included that Altum are required to have the capital up-front to complete the development, that Altum engineered the settlement date of the GKI to be the day before the state election and that it was suspicious that a fire was lit one week before the election, widely understood to be implying that either Altum or existing leaseholder Tower Holdings had questions to answer about the fire. Rob McCready, director of Altum Property Group said: Clearly Ms Lauga is trying to deflect responsibility away from herself and her government for their disgraceful neglect of the island and its residents. But what is deeply concerning is that it appears that she is also implying publicly that Altum may be responsible for the arson, when she knows this is not true. Ms Lauga was interviewed on ABC on Monday morning and said so it’s a bit of a coincidence, a little bit suspicious perhaps that the settlement date has been set for the 30th of October, the day before the state election and a little bit suspicious that there’s a fire the week before that. Then on Tuesday, Ms Lauga was quoted by ABC as saying: To date, we haven't been able to get that financial assurance that they have the capital to be able to develop the island." and on October 7th, in the Morning Bulletin she was quoted as saying that the GKI deal would not be signed unless they (Altum) have the funds to deliver what they promise. These comments are in direct conflict with lease condition 8.8 agreed by Altum with the Department of Natural Resources, Mines & Energy, which states that Altum has up to three years following the lease transfer to obtain financial backing of $60m to complete the first stage of the development. Mr McCready commented Either Brittany has no idea as to how the process to establish our capability works, or the state government has shifted the goal posts at the last minute. No Queensland developer would have that amount of spare capital lying around to develop this project. The process is, that first tenure must be established via a transfer of the lease to the builder, then the builder raises the capital. Unless of course you are a Chinese government owned corporation with unlimited foreign money - is this the type of developer that the state government now wants to attract, to the exclusion of locals? In relation to suggestions that the timing of settlement date being close to the election, Mr McCready commented: The original sale agreement between Tower and Altum was signed on the 17th September 2019 and varied twice earlier this year. We had no idea then, that the contract would still be dragging out until the election! On 27th February Altum signed a revised agreement with Tower which gave Altum an additional due diligence period until 30th April, 2020, a settlement date of 30th August and the option of extending for a further two months if the state government had not yet finalised the lease conditions. On 30th April this year we concluded our due diligence, effectively making the sale agreement unconditional. This was following advice from the state government that there would be significant additional funding coming for Common User Infrastructure. On 30th August, the lease conditions and support for public infrastructure were still not finalised and the department encouraged us to extend the contract settlement date to give them more time, following a crisis meeting with Tourism Minister Kate Jones. We reluctantly exercised the option to extend for a further two months, taking us to the 30th October. For Ms Lauga to suggest some kind of conspiracy smacks of desperation. The delays in transfer of the lease have entirely due to the state government. Ms Lauga has full knowledge of the issues created by the delays caused by the state and their failure to get the work on GKI started. She knew about the vandalism, she knew about the safety issues, she knew it was an accident waiting to happen. She is lucky no one was hurt. This time. Mr McCready concluded: The GKI Revitalisation Project creates more jobs in both the Keppel and Rockhampton electorates than all other election commitments in this region combined. I would have thought the government’s role is to encourage job-creating enterprise. If so, the GKI Revitalisation Project should be at the top of the state government’s priority for the region and should be given the support it deserves as a ‘Prescribed Project’ in the legislation. Condition 8.8 negotiated between Altum and DNRME states that: The Lessee must, by 28 February 2023, obtain financial accommodation which is for at least the amount of AUD$60,000,000, that is, three years after the leases were originally proposed to transfer (being 28 Feb 2020). Altum only needs a financial model showing the financial feasibility of the project to enable the transfer of the leases. This financial model can’t be completed until the state government advises exactly what common user, government owned infrastructure it is funding. Altum has been waiting for this advice from the state government since April this year and the project has stalled.

21.01.2022 How else would you like to cruise the beautiful Keppel islands.

20.01.2022 The weather is looking pretty good this weekend. Why not head over to Great Keppel Island.... Soak up some sun, get some sand between your toes and simply indulge in the crystal clear waters! Don't forget our SATURDAY Ealy Bird Special departing at 7:30am

19.01.2022 Another day, and it's another story from our State Government regarding Keppel.

18.01.2022 Dreaming of a Euro summer? Well say hello to our version of island hopping, Southern Great Barrier Reef style. The Keppels are a group of 18 lesser known isla...nds on the #southerngreatbarrierreef just off the coast of Yeppoon (which you'll find half way between Brisbane and Townsville in Visit Capricorn). While we can't visit right now, we're counting down the days until this is our view again : Keppel Explorer

18.01.2022 "[The State Government is] basically saying that until we can demonstrate that we've got finance partnering to the extent that the project needs, they won't transfer the lease to us," she said. "We can't go out to finance partners until we know the level of State Government commitment." Leigh McCreedy, Altum.

17.01.2022 17 glorious beaches with white sand and clear, blue water. Plus there's a good chance you'll have at least one of them all to yourself...Great Keppel Island on ...the Capricorn Coast is the perfect reason to #HolidayHereThisYear www.nathanwhiteimages.com.au DJI Mavic Pro | ISO 100 | f/2.2 | 26mm | 1/800 sec #VisitCapricorn #SouthernGreatBarrierReef #ThisisQueensland #GreatKeppelIsland #SeeAustralia

15.01.2022 APPARENT miscommunication and accusations of pork-barrelling soiled an official announcement this afternoon that $25 million promised in 2017 for power and water infrastructure on Great Keppel Island would instead be diverted to different construction projects.... One Nation Keppel candidate Wade Rothery, who watched the Labor ministers speak, afterwards called the announcement an "election smokescreen" that was "absolutely disgusting". "Another election promise that's going ...to be broken," he said, and seemed certain based on a phone call this morning that Altum would pull out of the deal. He said water infrastructure on the island was a prerequisite of further government and private investment... https://m.themorningbulletin.com.au//gki-money-j/4081171/

14.01.2022 Happy first day of Spring folks #idreamofkeppel #visitcapricorn #southerngreatbarrierreef

14.01.2022 I think Rob and Leigh McCready are genuine people who have put their heart and soul into the GKI Rejuvenation Project. They’ve got a lot of skin into the game, and they have put in a lot of time and effort. But unfortunately, the Member for Keppel and the Palaszczuk Labor Government have used them as political pawns in their own sick and pathetic game. Michelle Landry

13.01.2022 ALL PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENTS including the development on Keppel Island will be required to proceed to create Jobs and lift the economy in our local area. G...reat article in the Morning Bulletin on the 13/4/2020 and I am behind any project that will create Jobs and improve the economy from the private sector. My press release to the Morning Bulletin. Great Keppel Island is one of the most incredible places on Queensland’s coast. The island should be an asset for Keppel that creates jobs and builds a stronger local economy. There is huge potential for a world-class development that will attract tourists to the region and create more local jobs. It’s also important that the development helps preserve the island’s best feature the pristine environment. Queensland has consistently had one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation under Labor and projects like the Great Keppel Island development are desperately needed to create more local jobs. It’s been five years of delay after delay to this project by the Palaszczuk Labor Government, which can’t be trusted to deliver it. As the LNP candidate for Keppel I want to see work started on a development as soon as possible that creates desperately-needed locals jobs during construction and well into the future through tourism. Utility infrastructure is required for any development whether it’s residential, industrial or commercial. As with any other major development, the state government in conjunction with its local and federal counterparts has a crucial role to play in ensuring the project gets started. Multiple project proponents have fallen over under Labor it’s clear that the State Palaszczuk Labor Government is the weak link in making the development a reality. There’s no indication that any of the $25 million promised at the last election has actually been spent and the long-awaited business case still hasn’t even been publicly released. Whether it’s downsizing Rookwood Weir or breaking promises on Great Keppel Island, Labor can’t be trusted to deliver local jobs for Keppel. Unlike the current Member for Keppel, I won’t change my position after the election. Unlike Labor, an LNP Government won’t change the goal posts on job-generating projects from the private sector.

11.01.2022 Dreaming about white sand and crystal clear waters. Proud to see the local people of Capricorn Coast come together and make good choices in a tough time. With p...ositivity and solidarity, there is nothing we can't overcome. #Freefomfastcats #Southerngreatbarrierreef #Queenslandtourism #Visitcapricorn #Ocean #Ferry #Greatkeppelisland #seeaustralia #idreamofkeppel #thisisqueensland #GKI See more

11.01.2022 Fantastic to see Australian investors working to revive the resort on Great Keppel Island. Let’s hope Brittany Lauga doesn’t backflip on her promises again. Will it be all talk no action?

10.01.2022 GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND - A PRIORITY FOR ONE NATION For almost a decade, Great Keppel Island has been left to rot under Labor. Owners have faced enormous set backs... because of broken promises, red tape and sluggish responses to some of the most simple requests. The problem won’t go unless the incumbent goes. The Morning Bulletin ran a great story in today’s paper on where Keppel candidates see the islands future. https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au//big-read-k/3992655/ #Auspol #OneNation #Keppel #WadeRothery #GreatKeppelIsland #Resort #CapCoast

09.01.2022 A fire that appears to have been deliberately lit has ripped through Great Keppel Island's staff accommodation buildings yesterday afternoon. Questions again ar...e raised about how can this level of vandalism continue every week. This should have been avoided by the State Government. Reisdents and guests on the island were incredibly lucky it was brought under assisted by a favourable Northerly wind. With a predominant Southerly the loss could have been devastatingly worse. The torching of these buildings is an avoidable disgrace illustrating the State Governments complete failure in getting the GKI Revitailisation Project started. Altum had planned to refurbishing these staff accommodation units earlier this year, presenting passive surveillance to the old resort site as they begin the clean-up task. However, delays by decision makers in State Government have frustrated Altum to the point where they may need to walk away from the Revitalisation Project. It is State Government inaction that has delayed this project. On 30 June, residents friends of the Revitalisation Plan visited Livingstone Shire Council and highlighted the evidence of vandalism including burning of old mattresses and throwing coconuts though windows in the old resort. We explained that a fire disaster was only a matter of time away, so the best thing for Council to do would be to lobby the State to clear the red tape and get Altum Started. This message was subsequently sent to Labor Minister Kate Jones, and local Labor MP Brittany Lauga but fell on deaf ears.

09.01.2022 Oh lovely Long Beach @sunny.lorraway #idreamofkeppel #visitcapricorn #thisisqueensland #southerngreatbarrierreef

06.01.2022 One Nation has announced it'll commit $100 million towards the redevelopment of Great Keppel Island, if it wins the state election. Other candidates for the sea...t of Keppel have called it a 'pie in the sky' promise, saying they can deliver better. www.7NEWS.com.au #qldpol #QLDvotes #7NEWS

06.01.2022 THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL has inevitably changed. But one thing remains the same, GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND has the potential to be a major tourist destination. Central Queenslanders, in fact all Australians, will be looking for destinations to visit that are closer to home. Build it, they will come! NOW is the time we need to be telling our State and Federal Members and potential representatives that Central Queenslanders have long footed the bill for infrastructure projects in the So...uth East, we want to see support here in the regions. Provide the infrastructure (water in particular) so that Great Keppel Island can kick start our tourism industry. The flow on affects to our local economy with be vital over the next decade. #supportgki #southerngreatbarrierreef #centralqueensland Adrian de Groot Wade Rothery for Keppel - Pauline Hanson's One Nation Brittany Lauga Michelle Landry MP https://www.travelperk.com//the-future-of-business-travel/

04.01.2022 Fantastic to see a family orientated Australian developer such as Altum looking at Great Keppel Island. THE prospective purchasers of the Great Keppel Island resort development have taken time out from enjoying the sunshine on the pristine island with their family to update our local politicians on their plans for the island. Capricorn Enterprise Chief Executive Mary Carroll said she was very pleased to welcome Altum Property Group Director Rob McCready and his wife Leigh to ...the region, who met a number of key stakeholders in the past week. Altum met with Federal Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry MP, in addition to State Member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga, and Member for Rockhampton, Barry O’Rourke, as well as industry colleagues and operators, Ms Carroll said. Livingstone Shire Council Mayor Andy Ireland and Councillors welcomed a detailed presentation from Altum Property Group regarding current project status. MORE...

04.01.2022 18 August 2020 MEDIA RELEASE by ALTUM PROPERTY GROUP The announcement today from Brittany Lauga, Keppel MP and Kate Jones, Minister for State Development, Tourism and Innovation has blindsided the proponents of the Great Keppel Island Revitalisation project, who today are seeking clarity on what the announcement really means....Continue reading

01.01.2022 Must be election time again and we've hearing the same old promises... At the last state election Brittany Lauga promised to build power and water infrastructure and there was no mention of the need for federal funding, so where is it?

01.01.2022 CONFIRMATION - LABOR ABANDON POWER & WATER PLAN TO GKI Labor has confirmed they have abandoned an election promise to connect power and water to Great Keppel Is...land, putting at risk the $1.5 billion dollar GKI Revitalisation project. This is another broken promise by Brittany Lauga who has again proven she cannot be trusted with Keppel's future. https://www.themorningbulletin.com.au//aspiring-g/4080959/

01.01.2022 CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!!! To say Merry Christmas from the team at Freedom Fast Cats we are giving away a family pass (2 adults & 2 children) for return transfers to... Great Keppel Island! To go in the draw to win you need to: 1. Like this post 2. Share this post 3. Tag three friends To claim your prize you MUST also like our page. Prize drawn Christmas eve 24/12/19 Goodluck!!