Mission Beach local announced as new general manager of Dunk Island Group as it prepares the Spit for ‘glamping’

A Mission Beach local has been announced as the new general manager of the Dunk Island Group, which has earmarked revitalising the Spit as its first order of business.

Joshua Childs appointed as general manager of Dunk Island Group.

A new general manager has been announced to lead operations at the Dunk Island Group following the closure of overnight camping facilities and the pop-up beachside bar.

Mission Beach local Joshua Childs is expected to bring his wealth of knowledge of the region and the local community to revitalise the Spit – the local name for the area which encompasses the bar, amenities and campsites – in his role as general manager.

“This planned closure from October through early December 2023 will allow us to both

update the current camping facilities as well as introduce ‘glamping’ to the area in time for

the busy summer tourist season,” Mr Childs said.

Signs by the new owners of the Dunk Island Group say camping is no longer permitted due to construction. Picture: Supplied

Signs by the new owners of the Dunk Island Group say camping is no longer permitted due to construction. Picture: Supplied

“After years of neglect, our team is enthusiastic about revitalising the Spit.”

In a media statement, the Dunk Island Group revealed the re-opening of the Spit in mid-December would be accompanied by a Dunk Island Group-owned and operated 50-person commercial ferry.

The council’s official statement said the granting of the lease to the Dunk Island Group would allow continued access to the camp kitchen and amenities block as well as essential services including power, water and sewerage, but the closure of overnight camping has come as a surprise to the public.

Bry Penfold, owner-operator of QuickCoast by Myroo, who has championed the resurgence of travel to Dunk Island through his fastcat ferry service since the start of the year, said news of the closure had not been clearly communicated to him or the community and it was badly impacting his revenue, which came mainly from taking people camping.

“I’ve reached out to people and they’ve said they know nothing and my emails have not been getting responses,” Mr Penfold said.

“Unfortunately paddleboarding and kayaking have also been cancelled, because it has all been leased out to the new owner and now there is nothing to do for clients.”

“I need to know how to operate – should I tell people to bring their own food or not.”

Mr Penfold expressed disappointment that he had not been kept informed in order to work around the closure, which meant the cancellation of all reservations into Christmas.

Cafe staff member Phoebe Crow, general hand Tana Allison and newly appointed general manager of the Dunk Island Group Joshua Childs. Picture: Supplied

In regards to the Fitzroy to Magnetic Island service proposed by Mr Penfold earlier this year, he said there had been one successful run and he was in talks with the Hinchinbrook Shire to firm it up next year in time for the tourist season.

“It is all still very much happening, there’s been interest from international tour operators,” he said.

“Every aspect has been covered, especially operation in bad weather.”

Cassowary Coast Regional Council issued a statement saying it was happy the lessee, Dunk Island Group, was upgrading campsites in time for the 2023-2024 summer season.

“While works on the island are taking place, Dunk Island Group continues to maintain the Island’s public amenities providing for day visitation,” a council spokesperson said.

“The activation of Dunk Island alongside the Mission Beach Town Centre Revitalisation will

herald an exciting new era for the Mission Beach economy.”

Originally published as Mission Beach local announced as new general manager of Dunk Island Group as it prepares the Spit for ‘glamping’