Eco & Sustainability
At Great Keppel Island Hideaway & Keppel Konnections
Eco Tourism Australia
We’re extremely proud that Great Keppel Island Hideaway is Eco Tourism Australia Accredited.
Keppel Konnections is in the final stages of it’s application to be certified as an Eco Tourism Australia destination, but does not yet currently hold the Eco Tourism Australia Certification. Information regarding Keppel Konnections Eco Journey can be found further down this page.
Our Mission?
Is to be custodians of this pristine environment. To enable it to exist and be preserved as nature intended while giving visitors the opportunity to experience it in an economically and ecologically viable way without interfering with or having any adverse impact on the long-term sustainability of the island’s is for Great Keppel Island to remain a pristine, 17 white sandy beach paradise; to preserve and maintain its reputation within the World Heritage Listed Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
We wish to provide a nature-based destination, giving an opportunity for visitors from all over the world to experience the natural beauty and its inhabitants, including the birds, echidnas, turtles and dugongs which live on or visit the island and its surrounding reef.
Our Values
- Manage our resort and the environment in which it is located to a standard which will preserve and enhance the environmental values of the island and surrounding reef.
- Educate and inform guests about the environmental value of the island and its surrounding reef to ensure that their activities cause minimal disturbance to the fragile ecosystem.
- Educate and train our staff to ensure that they have a working knowledge of our Environmental Management System - EMS - and their responsibilities under the EMS.
- Research, develop and implement operational improvements to reduce the impact that the resort and its visitors may have on the pristine environment.
Management Plans
The Great Keppel Island Hideaway has developed a number of Management Plans that are included in our Environmental Management Plan.
- Soil and Water Management
- Flora and Fauna Management
- Visual, Landscape and Rehabilitation Management
- Noise and Vibration Management
- Air Quality Management
- Traffic and Access Management
- Archaeology and Heritage Management
- Hazards and Risk Management
- Waste and Energy Management
Eco Certification
We engage a large number of activities to minimise the impact on the environment.
We’ve recently attained ‘Eco Certified’ Ecotourism Australia accreditation for Great Keppel Island Hideaway.
This accreditation is vital for ensuring the sustainable future of tourism in the on Great Keppel Island and the Great Barrier Reef. To gain and retain this accreditation, we must obey stringent environmental standards as operators, it helps minimise negative impacts on the delicate island and marine ecosystem.
This certification not only preserves the island and the reef’s biodiversity but also enhances visitor experiences, contributing to the long-term viability of the tourism industry in the region. We’re really proud to have attained it and would love your help in keeping it.
Keppel Konnections & whale Watching
At Keppel Konnections, we are dedicated to reducing our environmental impact while enhancing the visitor experience through sustainable practices. Our EcoTourism initiatives focus on monitoring, conservation, and education to ensure that every journey to Great Keppel Island is as eco-friendly as possible.
By integrating these sustainable measures, we aim to preserve the beauty of Great Keppel Island for future generations while providing an eco-conscious travel experience.
We remind our passengers that while we frequently encounter whales and other fascinating marine life on our journeys, sightings are not guaranteed, as these animals move freely in their natural habitat.
To ensure their well-being, please refrain from using flash photography, do not feed marine animals, remain in the vessel at all times—especially when marine animals are present in the water—and absolutely do not throw any litter or unsolicited objects into the water or at the animals.
Keppel Konnections is constantly looking for ways to reduce it’s impact on Great Barrier Reef.
We are committed to low-impact tourism, which means prioritizing the health and preservation of our marine ecosystems.
By minimising our footprint and respecting marine life, we help protect the delicate balance of Great Keppel Island’s coastal environment for future generations to enjoy. Thank you for joining us in keeping our oceans vibrant and thriving.
Our Eco-Initiatives
Recycling
Collection and recycling of all plastic bottles – we are in the process of introducing a desalination plant which will provide potable water (currently bore water) to not only the 51 rooms but various other areas around the resort which will provide water bottle refill stations and easier for us to grow our own produce on GKI. The desalination plant will also helps replenish the underground aquifer with fresh water instead of depleting it through the use of bore water.
We take advantage of any rainfall with a number of rain water tanks located throughout the resort.
We collect and recycle bottles and cans. Where a product is available on tap eg beer – we have removed the glass equivalent from our product range, thus reducing our wastage.
We encourage guests to bring their own coffee cups but also have a range of our own reusable cups and when takeaway is requested we used eco approve plant-based cups and lids.
For lunch service, given the large number of guests, we use biodegradable trays and cutlery.
Throughout the resort we have bins including recycling bins which are cleared daily.
We are committed to continuing to find innovative ideas to lower our carbon footprint.
We thank Plastic Free CQ for their advice and support.
Gardens & Walk Ways
The Great Keppel Island Hideaway is situated just north of the Tropic of Capricorn and features lush native tropical gardens.
We are committed to eradicating non natives species such as mossman burr, yellow oleander, coral creeper and strangler fig. All plant and equipment arriving on site is checked to ensure that it is clean and free from any soil or organic matter that may carry weed seeds.
To limit exhaust fumes, vehicles, plant and equipment are serviced regularly.
Our walkways are designed to minimise disturbance to trees and vegetation within the property. We utilise mulched vegetation to protect disturbed areas from erosion during rain events.
We have a thriving native bee hive collecting pollen from a variety of flowers on the island.
Our worm farm (currently 14,000 worms) enjoy the kitchen food scraps and together with garden mulch turn into fertile rich soil for our garden beds.
Images: Walkways & Worm Farm
Keppel Turtle Fund
Together with the Keppel Turtle Fund – we help raise money and awareness for the protection of these magnificent creatures. The Keppel Turtle Fund raise money through the sale of souvenirs in the Gift Shop and an annual Ladies Lunch.
The Keppel Turtle Fund recently funded a new marine educational trail called ‘Seaway’ built on Great Keppel Island.
The trail consists of 15 beautifully designed and built signs with loads of facts and information about our reef, turtles and diversity of marine life.
They make it fun and interactive for families and children with supporters packs including an activity booklet created by Livingstone Shire Council. The Seaway was made possible by major sponsors Federal Government, Community Bank Emu Park & Yeppoon
Thank you to Denise Weisse and Mark Edminstone for your tireless work supporting the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
Fishing & The Reef
Fishing is a past time enjoyed by many guests. We aim educate guests on the various green zones, protected species and the rules for spearfishing. We want to maintain a healthy reef full of a range of fish and other majestic sea creatures.
We participate in various reef programs including ‘Eye on the Reef’ which is a monitoring and assessment program. It enables anyone to contribute to the reefs long term protection by collecting valuable information about the reef health, marine animals and incidents that is use d to understand the bigger picture and inform how we manage the reef.
We also participate in ‘Reef Stars’ which are hexagonal metal frames they were placed on the sea beds at Monkey Beach & Shelving Beach. They provide a stable platform that live coral fragments are attached too. There coral fragments continue to grow and eventually completely cover the reef star system.
The Great Keppel Island Hideaway spent $1.9m (of which the Federal Government kindly contributed $200K) on sand bags completed in September 2019 to protect the resort and Putney Beach from erosion. We constantly monitor erosion and sedimentation movement caused by weather events including major tide changes and cyclones.
The Hideaway recently increased our storage capacity for holding supplies, reducing the barge delivery for kitchen, bar and maintenance requirements to once a week saving on diesel fuel.
Power
With over 300 days of sunshine each year we embrace the power of the sun.
The Hideaway is in the process of installing solar panels thus reducing our reliance on diesel generators.
Cleaning Products
Eco friendly detergents are used by both the Kitchen and Housekeeping Staff. We encourage guests to hang up and reuse towels and provide clothes lines throughout the resort.
Buildings
Where possible buildings are designed and placed to fit in with the natural environment taking into consideration natural light and ventilation.
Clean Up Australia Day
We actively participate in Clean Up Australia Day on the first Sunday of March each year.
Our Gift Shop
The Great Keppel Island Hideaway Gift Shop sells eco friendly sunscreen and insect repellent to help protect the reef. We also sell eco friendly calico bags.
Our Staff
All staff on commencement are inducted on the environmental practices and also provided with reusable cutlery & crockery.
The Future
The Great Keppel Island Hideaway encourages future development on GKI which acknowledges the history of the island, respect the residents, protects the flora and fauna and showcases our special piece of tropical paradise situated on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.
We welcome suggestions from guests for new initiatives to help further promote sustainability.
E: manager@gkihideaway.com.au
Acknowledgement
The Great Keppel Island Hideaway & Keppel Konnections acknowledges the Woppaburras, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and enjoy. We pay our respects to their Elders; past, present and emerging.