The Great Keppel Island redevelopment offers a great springboard for marine research in the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

That's according to CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman, who said tourists and local businesses were not the only stakeholders likely to gain from the project.

An artist's impression of the proposed Research Centre ... and Professor Scott Bowman

Professor Bowman said the resort project plans included a Research Centre, designed to become a focal point for reef research of great relevance to the entire region.

"The Great Keppel Island Research Centre presents a rare opportunity for researchers, resort management and the community at large to learn more about the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef," he said.

"If it goes ahead, the Centre could position Central Queensland as a ‘go to' destination for reef research in Australia, which has obvious flow-on effects for both the environment and the local economy."

CQUniversity has agreed to conduct scientific projects at the Research Centre to be built by GKI Resort Pty Ltd as part of the proposed new tourism resort on Great Keppel Island, which is undergoing a final approval stage.

The Research Centre has been conceived to conduct research programs, undertake conservation activities on the island and within the marine park, monitor coral communities and facilitate student and professional research activities.

Development Manager for GKI Resort Pty Ltd Anthony Aiossa says the company is keen to work with CQUniversity to deliver the Great Keppel Island Research Centre, "which will provide a wonderful facility for the University and the local community".

Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll said the Research Centre would suit the desires of tourists, who are becoming more attuned to the environmental aspects of their holiday destinations.

"Tourism is so much more sophisticated now - visitors want to touch it, feel it, experience it, and a research centre on Great Keppel Island would certainly provide that," she said.

The resort proponents say that, once approved, Great Keppel Island will have a brand new tourism resort with a world class design and world leading environmental features. They say the GKI Revitalisation Plan will transform areas previously used as an old sheep farm and dilapidated resort into a sustainable eco-tourism resort.