Inside the feud at Whitsunday Waters Resort at Dolphin Heads that may cost guests their pool

A longstanding feud between a Queensland resort’s body corporate and the owner of its bar has escalated with the body corporate’s shock threat to close down the pool.

Signs across the resort highlight how seriously the resort is trying to crack down on public guests in the pool. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Conflict between a bar owner and the body corporate of a Mackay region resort is escalating in a long-running dispute over access to the resort’s pool.

Whitsunday Waters at Dolphin Heads first made the decision to restrict public access of their swimming pool in 2021 following complaints from residents over public overuse of the private facility and defecation in the pool.

This resulted in a feud between the body corporate and the owner of Salt Cafe Bar and Restaurant Mackay, the resort’s restaurant, who has now fired back by invoicing the body corporate $1000 for access to resort infrastructure housed in sheds she owns.

On December 31, 2024 Lyn Ischenko, who owns the resort’s main office and restaurant, sent an email to body corporate secretary, treasurer and spokesman Bob Boundy informing him she was charging $1000 monthly for access to sheds.

The latest instance of defecation in the pool was “several weeks ago” and done by five year old child according to Ms Ischenko. Photo: Contributed

Ms Ischenko said she would change the padlocks and only grant access to them once the fees had been paid, but would allow Ergon to access the equipment.

When asked why she’d decided to start charging for access after 10 years of ownership, Ms Ischenko gave no comment.

Mr Boundy said all the equipment contained in those sheds was the property of the body corporate.

“She wants $1000 a month from us or she’ll deny us access to what we need to maintain the pools,” Mr Boundy said.

“We have a simple solution to that, we’ll close the pools down because they can’t be maintained.”

Ms Ischenko said her statement had been interpreted incorrectly and she intended to give limited access to her sheds.

“As it is a commercial venture all they have to do is pay the rent and there is no problem,” she said.

Access to the pool is blocked by a double gate and requires a fob to get in. Photo: Fergus Gregg

The pool dispute comes after the body corporate posted a reminder to the resort’s Facebook on December 28, 2024 that the pool was private and public access was not permitted.

Mr Boundy said the problem was Ms Ischenko continued to invite the public into the pool, Ms Ischenko said people who buy a meal at her restaurant get the fobs required to get into the pool.

She also hosts functions at the restaurant, including year 12 end of year party’s, where guests use the pool.

The body corporate went as far as to contact the Mackay school whose party it was and informed them their students were trespassing.

Ms Ischenko said she has lived in the area for more than 40 years and was “community minded”.

“Dolphin Heads Resort is an icon to Mackay and needs to stay that way.”

Originally published as Inside the feud at Whitsunday Waters Resort at Dolphin Heads that may cost guests their pool