Building demolition on Wild Duck Island off Central Queensland coast

Abandoned bungalows at what was to be a $34million-dollar eco resort on a Great Barrier Reef island between Rockhampton and Mackay will be demolished after a tender was awarded for the clean-up.

The abandoned buildings on Wild Duck Island, Broad Sound group off Central Queensland coast on the Great Barrier Reef.

A $1.66 million-dollar tender has been awarded to demolish and clean up resort buildings on a quiet and abandoned island off the Central Queensland coast.

Wild Duck Island is in the Great Barrier Reef off Stanage Bay, 170kms by road from Rockhampton and 19km from Carmilla, 80kms south of Mackay.

It is known to be the largest nesting site in Eastern Australia for flatback turtles.

Wild Duck Island is off Stanage Bay.

The Queensland Government purchased the remote island’s tourism lease in 2021 for $1.3 million.

It had previously been owned by Pathold No.84 Pty Ltd, since 1999.

Buildings for demolition on Wild Duck Island.

Plans had been lodged in 2007 and approved in 2012 for an $34 million eco-resort to include 110-room accommodation and central resort facilities including pool, gym, conference centre and day spa.

The project didn’t get off the ground and was abandoned in 2015.

Wild Duck Island, located off Stanage Bay, is listed for sale for $4.5m, open to offers.

There were 20 two-bedroom brick bungalows built on the site and in 2020, when the island property was advertised for sale, they were reported to be in disrepair and in need of plaster walls, roof and amenities replaced.

It was first listed for $4.5 million and the State Government was able to score it for a low price of $1,320,000.

In February 2023, the Department of Energy and Public Works released a tender for the demolition and resort clean up at the island site.

Gold Coast company Demex was awarded the contract for $1,663,271.72.

The brick bungalows in aerial view.

“Demex has been awarded a contract to demolish and remove 20 brick two-bedroom bungalows as well as a former caretaker’s cabin and to remove other miscellaneous equipment and machinery left at the abandoned former resort,” a Department spokesperson said.

The work is to be completed by September 30, 2023.

Structures on Wild Duck Island off the Central Queensland coast.

The Department of Environment and Science advised the area where the building will be demolished will be added to Queensland’s protected area.

The government has no intention of selling the land to the public.

The former resort site takes up 126 hectares of one side of the island with the remainder of land on the island already zoned as national park.

Once the demolition work is completed, it will allow the entire island to become protected.

Wild Duck Island has the largest flatback turtles nest in eastern Australia.

Wild Duck Island is one of 48 islands in the Broad Sound group off the Central Queensland coast, most of which are in their natural state.

This makes them a perfect haven for nesting vulnerable flatback turtles.

“It has been mostly been deserted for decades. Its splendid isolation has seen it become the largest flatback turtle nesting site in eastern Australia,” a previous state government release said.

Originally published as Building demolition on Wild Duck Island off Central Queensland coast