Brampton Island Resort’s developers ask for fifth extension until 2030

Reasons for the delayed construction of an exclusive Qld Island resort with luxury units and a beach bar can be revealed.

Brampton Island Resort, a former jewel in Queensland's island tourism crown, has been left to decay while its owner delays starting work on an approved seven star redevelopment. Picture: Contributed

Big dreams for the resurrection of a Mackay region island remain on hold as developers ask for a fifth extension on 12-year-old plans.

The Brampton Island Resort has rotted off the coast of Mackay for more than a decade after its closure in January 2011.

Developer Brampton Enterprises — operated by island leaseholders United Petroleum — closed the resort for a major redevelopment.

In 2013 a development application was made to upgrade the island getaway into a seven-star resort and received council approval in 2015.

Now the company is asking for a five-year extension to complete development by 2030.

Artist's impressions of the seven star resort on Brampton Island submitted to council in 2015.

Since receiving approval, the plans to create six new accommodation buildings, beach rock pools, a golf course, tennis court and beach bar have gone unrealised and Brampton Enterprises already asked for an extension until July 2023.

In 2019 Mackay region mayor Greg Williamson said, to the council’s knowledge, no work had commenced on the island and council had not heard from Brampton enterprises in 18 months.

According to documents submitted to council, during the Covid-19 pandemic the Queensland Minister for State Development granted three extensions totalling another two years until July 8, 2025.

Mr Williamson previously said council had limited grounds to knock back the previous extension, but hoped to join forces with the state government to put pressure on United Petroleum “to either do something with the island or relinquish their lease”.

On July 7, 2025 Property Projects Australia — on behalf of Brampton Enterprises — submitted its application for an extension to council, just one day before expiry.

Property Projects Australia Director Alan Irvin said the “extension is required due to a combination of complex tenure, environmental factors and infrastructure factors”.

Mr Irvin said Brampton Enterprises continued to pay annual rent under the crown lease and “intends to redevelop the island”.

He said discussions and negotiations were ongoing between the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DESI) regarding reinstating a jetty.

Brampton Island Resort, a former jewel in Queensland's island tourism crown, has been left to decay since its closure in 2011. Picture: Contributed

“The development will be reliant upon access and use to a jetty for the purposes of transporting visitors, guests, supplies and other materials to and from the Island via boats and other similar types of vessels,” Mr Irvin said.

He said the jetty was removed by Transport and Main Roads since Brampton Enterprises took on the crown leases.

He also said the extension was necessary to allow sufficient time to finalise the negotiations and begin development “including undertaking any infrastructure repairs and upgrades necessary to support the intended redevelopment”.

Mackay Regional Council Director of Planning, Growth and Sustainability Aletta Nugent said the council had received the application and it was in the process of being assessed.

Brampton Enterprises was also contacted for comment.

“A further five years is considered a reasonable and necessary period to allow for staged works, substantial commencement, and project delivery in accordance with the development approval,” Mr Irvin said.

Originally published as Brampton Island Resort’s developers ask for fifth extension until 2030