The Great Keppel Island Boardwalks project is an integral part of the Great Keppel Island Concept Master Plan, aimed at improving accessibility and connectivity across key areas of the island.
The project includes the investigation and design development of three distinct boardwalk sites, providing visitors with safe, environmentally sensitive pathways to explore the island’s unique coastal landscapes.
The three proposed boardwalk sites under investigation for design are:
- Extension Along Fisherman’s Beach: Enhancing the existing pathway to improve connectivity and accessibility for visitors arriving at the Island and exploring the main beach area (approximately 600 metres).
- Fisherman’s Beach to Shelving Beach Headland: A new boardwalk that offers a scenic route along the coastline, providing opportunities to enjoy the island's natural beauty while connecting key locations (approximately 500 metres).
- Shelving Beach to Monkey Beach Headland: A boardwalk designed to link two popular beaches, enabling visitors to navigate the island safely and with minimal environmental impact along the nearby reefs (approximately 800 metres).
Key features of the boardwalks include:
- Environmentally Sustainable Design: Use of durable, eco-friendly materials that harmonize with the island's natural surroundings.
- Improved Accessibility: Inclusive design to ensure safe and easy access for all visitors, including those with mobility challenges.
- Enhanced Visitor Experience: Integration of shaded rest areas, seating, and viewing platforms to provide spaces for relaxation and appreciation of the island's scenic views.
By creating these boardwalks, the project aims to improve the visitor experience while protecting the island’s delicate environment and promoting sustainable tourism. No commitment for construction has been made yet towards the boardwalks. An appropriate investment decision will be made at the conclusion of public engagement and design.
The contract for the Great Keppel Island Boardwalks project has been awarded to NewScape Design, an experienced landscape architecture studio specialising in natural area designs in remote locations.
Community Consultation
Potential options for consideration
Track ratings:
Class 1 - Opportunity for large numbers of visitors, including those with reduced mobility, to undertake walks which are provided with a high level of interpretation and facilities.
Class 3 - Opportunity for visitors to walk in slightly modified natural environments requiring a moderate level of fitness and where the provision of interpretation and facilities is not common.
Class 4 - Opportunity for visitors to explore and discover relatively undisturbed natural environments along defined and distinct tracks with minimal (if any) facilities.
No decision has been made on whether the proposed boardwalks will go in front or behind the homes on Fisherman's Beach.
Council is committed to maximising the impact of available funding to benefit our community. As a first step, we will engage with the community to help define the ideal outcome and set priorities for this stage of the project. This collaborative approach ensures we can significantly enhance the visitor experience in the short term while maintaining flexibility to complete future stages as additional funding becomes available.
