Whitsunday family claims Daydream Island staff ordered them to leave public beach

A boatie has renewed calls for protests at privately-owned Whitsunday islands after a young group of snorkellers was reportedly ‘screamed at’ for getting too close to a four-star resort.

Children exploring a Whitsunday coral reef have had a family outing “completely ruined” after, they claim, staff at a high-end island resort falsely accused them of trespassing on private property.

Four children were snorkelling in the shallow waters off Sunlovers Beach, Daydream Island, on Sunday January 30 when a person dressed in a blue uniform, believed to be a Daydream Island Resort staff member, reportedly yelled from the shore that they must immediately leave the area unless they wanted to pay to access resort facilities.

Airlie Beach marine contractor David Edge snapped photos as a person dressed in a blue uniform who reportedly 'screamed at' a group of young swimmers at Daydream Island on January 30, 2022. Picture: Supplied

Airlie Beach marine contractor David Edge – who had taken the group out on his boat in a belated Australia Day family celebration – watched in shock from the nearby public mooring as the incident unfolded and the person in uniform reportedly “screamed at” a young swimmer in distress who “just wanted to touch the beach to catch her breath”.

The family of longtime Whitsunday locals is still reeling from the way the children were treated, believing they were well within their rights to enjoy the island’s surrounding waters, despite the land being privately owned by resort operators China Capital Investment Group.

“I worked on my Australia Day so this Sunday was my family Australia Day only to be completely ruined by a Chinese company,” Mr Edge said.

“At no stage did the kids go on the beach or attempt to go on the beach – they just wanted to go for a snorkel.

“One eight-year-old girl was exhausted and just wanted to stand in the water to catch her breath and the staff were shouting at her to get away from the island.

“[They] told her to go to the marina office and pay if she wanted to keep on snorkelling.”

Picture: Supplied

The Queensland Government’s Department of Resources and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority both confirmed the children did not break any rules by entering the water from a boat, as members of the public are permitted to access most Queensland beaches up to the highest tide mark.

“Most beaches in Queensland are state land to the highest tide mark and the Queensland Government is the only entity able to restrict access,” a Department of Resources spokeswoman said.

“Sunset Bay beach and waters are available for public use.

“Visitors can contact the local Department of Resources office if they are asked to leave this area.”

Mr Edge, pictured, has called for a protest after a person dressed in a blue uniform reportedly 'screamed at' a group of young swimmers at Daydream Island. Picture: Facebook

The incident is reminiscent of restrictions to public access at Keswick Island’s Basil Bay in 2020 that prompted a flotilla protest, coincidentally, on Australia Day.

Mr Edge is calling for similar action at Daydream Island to send a message that the public should have access to public areas.

“I think it was very un-Australian what happened,” he said.

“And I think everyone in Airlie Beach or every Australian for that matter should hop in the boat to protest and go over to Sunlovers Beach and enjoy the day on a public beach.

“Have a swim, barbecue, drink, whatever and enjoy the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park equally like every Australian should be able to.”

Daydream Island Resort did not respond to requests for comment.