Construction Commences on GKI Wastewater Treatment Plant
Published on 08 October 2025
Livingstone Shire Council marked a significant milestone today with an official sod-turning to commence construction of the new wastewater treatment plant on Great Keppel Island.
The broader $12.75 million project, delivered by Livingstone Shire Council, is funded by the Queensland Government as part of $30 million committed to rejuvenate Great Keppel Island.
The centrepiece of the project is a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant that will turn wastewater into high-quality, recycled water suitable for non-drinking uses such as irrigation.
Leading infrastructure company Pensar has been awarded the $8.66 million contract to construct the wastewater treatment plant.
Once complete, the new treatment plant will have sufficient capacity to service existing accommodation providers, new visitor amenity blocks and northern freehold allotments on Fisherman’s Beach, with the capacity to support future development opportunities aligned with the Great Keppel Island (Woppa) Concept Master Plan.
Mayor Adam Belot said the project was a major step forward for the island’s long-term sustainability.
“This is a landmark moment for Great Keppel Island and the broader region,” Mayor Belot said.
“By replacing outdated systems with reliable infrastructure, this investment helps protect the island’s sensitive environment and supports future tourism and community use in a responsible way, ensuring Keppel can continue to thrive as a key destination for tourism and regional development.”
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the new wastewater treatment plant is another piece of critical infrastructure to bring Great Keppel Island’s tourism potential to life.
“A key priority of our bold torism plan Destination 2045 is to create more unique ecotourism experiences throughout Queensland, and Great Keppel Island is a shining example of this,” he said.
Keppel MP Nigel Hutton said Great Keppel Island was ready to ride the new wave of tourism for the state.
“We are delivering the infrastructure required to support the rejuvenation of Great Keppel Island and lay the groundwork for future investment such as those proposed in the Great Keppel Island (Woppa) Concept Master Plan,” he said.
“This critical infrastructure will support attracting more visitors to Great Keppel Island and solidify its potential as a tourism gem.”
Darren Cleland, Executive Regional Director of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, said building a new wastewater treatment plant was identified as a priority by locals during the development of the Great Keppel Island (Woppa) Concept Master Plan.
“Driven by a community Project Reference Group and informed by a wide range of local stakeholders, the Concept Master Plan provides a roadmap for Great Keppel Island’s future – with the potential to deliver significant economic benefits for Central Queensland,” he said.
“This is an exciting step towards realising the community’s vision for the island as a globally celebrated and loved low-impact marine and eco-tourism destination.”
Pensar’s Chief Operating Officer David Brown said the company was proud to partner with Livingstone Shire Council to deliver such an important piece of infrastructure for Great Keppel Island.
“This project is a great example of how innovative engineering can provide long-term benefits for both the community and the environment,” he said.
The wastewater treatment plant is fully funded by the Queensland Government through Round 4 of the Building our Regions program and the GKI Rejuvenation Fund as part of the Great Keppel Island (Woppa) Concept Master Plan.
Council is committed to working with island residents and stakeholders throughout the construction phase to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. To stay up to date on the project, please visit Council's Get Involved platform.