Latest development application just the beginning of works at Hideaway

New beachfront cabins and key upgrades are among the projects set to begin at Great Keppel Island Hideaway as part of the first major work on the island since the main resort closed in 2008. SEE THE PLANS

New beachfront cabins, refurbishment of existing cabins and upgrades at the restaurant and bar are among the major projects set to begin at Great Keppel Island Hideaway as part of the first major project on the island since the main resort closed in 2008. 

The Hideaway project is set to be carried out over the next two years and will also mark the most extensive works at the business since it was sold eight years ago.

The business was formerly named Keppel Haven and was owned by Brian Canty.

It changed hands in 2013 when a group of businessmen Sean Appleton, Grantley Jack, Matthew Bredhauer and Peter Lowe, bought the 300-bed property for a reported $850,000, following months of negotiations.

At the time of the sale, much of the accommodation was reportedly in severe disrepair and had been for a decade before the sale.

It was renamed Great Keppel Island Hideaway and remains the only business offering a restaurant and bar for visitors to the island.

A development application was submitted to Livingstone Shire Council this month for alterations at the food and drink outlet of the hugely popular Hideaway.

The proposed refurbishment is for the upgrade of the kitchen, staff and service facilities and to create more shade cover with a roof extension of the existing area.

The application documents note the upgrades are “intended to modernise and freshen up the old building. It is not intended that the character of the building would change from the existing however the amenity of the area would be greatly improved.”

The facility will not be expanded further towards the ocean except for two shipping containers that can be relocated if required.

The development is protected by existing erosion control measures.

GKI Hideaway manager Kelly Harris told The Morning Bulletin they had “big plans” for the business.

“It was always the intention of the owners when they bought the Hideaway eight years ago to help return Great Keppel Island to its former glory,” he said.

“All of the infrastructure was either falling down or not working at all and it’s taken a long time to get it to even an operational standard.”

Speaking to the latest application, Mr Harris said building supplies were getting harder to acquire but they hoped to have the restaurant and bar project completed by Christmas.

There are some “big plans” in the background for more works.

Hideaway has recently acquired a coffee van which has been aptly named “The Hideout”.

“Over the next 12 to 24 months there are major renovations and improvements planned that will change the standard altogether,” Mr Harris said.

“We are currently fully renovating 12 of the rooms and adding a further three new ones which will be complete within the month.”

The next step will a development application for new waterfront cabins along Putney Beach.

“That will be the most exciting of it all, something that the region will be able to be really proud of,” Mr Harris said.

The latest development application is yet to be approved by council officers.

Co-owner Sean Appleton said it had been a long eight years with many setbacks from cyclones to erosion and it was exciting to see all of the plans starting to come to fruition.

Reflecting on the changes implemented so far, he said they had come a long way.

“The sewage treatment plant didn’t work… there was a lot of stuff wrong with it when we bought it,” he said.

“All of sudden it has turned into what we would have liked to see five years ago.”

The beachfront cabins are expected to be a hit, as the existing ones are already booked out 12 months in advance.

“It’s going to be a lot better facility wise with the new bar and kitchen,” Mr Appleton said.

Money has also been spent on the other businesses within the company, with upgrades to the Keppel Konnections ferries and a new dive boat for Keppel Dive.

“Everything is starting to come back into its own,” Mr Appleton said.

“We have enough local backup… We are the only major tourism place for the whole of the Capricorn Coast.”

A literal pipe dream, Mr Appleton’s personal vision is to see a wave pool like the one on Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road set beside Middle Island.

“The only thing we miss out on the island is the surf… it would be great to get good surf on Putney Beach,” he said.

Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll was there on the day of sale on July 1, 2013 and congratulated everyone involved what they have achieved at the Hideaway so far.

“We have worked very closely with the owners and management of GKI Hideaway and they have consistently grown,” she said.

“We have worked hand-in-hand with them to continually grow the visitor numbers to Great Keppel Island and we congratulate them making every effort in improving their product offerings.”

Ms Carroll said the renovation of the existing rooms would provide visitors with a high quality product.

“The consistent improvement of product is critical for our tourism market,” she said.

The hotly debated Great Keppel Island Resort was bought by Tower Holdings for $16.5 million in 2006 and closed due to the Global Financial Crisis in 2008.

It has remained abandoned ever since, leaving accommodation and dining options limited on the island.

Most recently, Sunshine Coast firm Altum Property Group was knocked back by the State Government in its bid to acquire Tower’s leases for the island and take over the resort development.

In June, Altum announced plans to build and let 50 temporary eco tents as part of a ‘Glamping Tent Hotel’ in front of the old resort on Fisherman’s Beach.

Ms Carroll thanked the remaining business owners for their concerted efforts in their offerings.

“Until we have a resort on Great Keppel Island we are relying and thankful to the existing operators in investing heavily in their products to provide the best possible standard they can provide,” she said.