What you said about Whitsunday Waters pool feud: Restaurant, body corporate clash

After banning restaurant guests from using the resort pool, the body corporate is now threatening to shut it down entirely, sparking a fierce debate in Mackay. Should people be allowed to swim? POLL

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

The feud between the body corporate of the Whitsunday Waters resort at Dolphin Heads and the owner of the resort’s bar has stirred controversy among the community with its latest development.

Debate over access to the pool at the resort dates back years, with the body corporate moving new bylaws to make the pool reserved exclusively for residents and guests, not the public, while the restaurant owner had argued guests of her restaurant are guests of the resort.

In 2021 new restrictions were introduced to prevent the public accessing the pool and the struggle is continuing three years later with the bar owner now charging the body corporate $1000 a month for access to pool machinery.

Now, the body corporate has opened the possibility of closing the pool entirely.

WHAT OUR READERS HAD TO SAY

Terri Thompson

I don’t understand why the hotel doesn’t just hire bar staff and chefs to run it then all profits go back to the resort and not lease it out.

Aneurin Williams

Stop arguing and add some chlorine would be nice.

Sue Coburn

Body corp are the biggest bunch of whingers ever.

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

Kerry Hamilton

Such a shame.

The only resort style bar in the Mackay area where families/couples/friends could potentially go for lunch and a swim without the worry of stingers etc.

Mackay has become such a backward town sadly

Andrew Gaulton

It was mint when you could just rock up and have a swim, buy their food and drinks etc. Thought it was a win win

Luna Moon

So in house guests should mean anyone who spends a dollar on the premises. Not just on a room but as a guest of the resort as a complete. Why on earth would a resort draw lines in the sand for any guest regardless of where they spend their money. The only people that should not be able to swim there should be public coming on to the resort grounds to utilise the pool only. So room+ pool or room + bar + pool or room + bar + restaurant + pool or restaurant + pool or bar plus pool should all be allowed 🤔 not just POOL that should be the only thing the body corporate should have a concern about in this situation

Dolphin Heads Resort has hit the market for $1.6 million. Photo: Contributed

Marnie Keating

I’m shocked people think they can turn up and use a request pool facilities when eating? You can’t do this anywhere else in the world.

Are people going to the pool or eating out?

Perhaps a solution like elsewhere is to sign a waiver and charge a fee per person.

And like everywhere else no alcohol by the pool etc

Dominic Dennis

So, they’d rather see the restaurant fail and close, only to complain when corporate fees go up, and no one rents your room or Airbnb because the place is a dive without the pool, bar, or restaurant?

It frustrates me to no end how this town struggles to grow with the current mindset in place.

Supporting local businesses is essential for the community’s success and appeal.

Without them, everyone loses in the long run.

Barb Hill

It will just end up like all the other tired and rundown resorts that no longer operate as such like Kohuna and Laguna Quays.

Marie Chugg

It used to be buy a drink use the pool, great for tourists and families, now its gone to crap, full of drug users and not what its former glory was by any means.

Know someone who worked there

Wendy Hastie

What a terrible disgrace this used to be a wonderful place to go for a meal and swim on weekends.

I had my 70th birthday here earlier in year was wonderful booked a lot of rooms both from resort and air b&b why can’t everyone learn to get along it’s a great place to relax leave things as they were

Dolphin Heads Resort has hit the market for $1.6 million. Photo: Contributed

McNicol Bec

That body corporate is out of control.

Once upon a time it never allowed residents there- it was holiday let only.

No pool = no atmosphere, No restaurant, means no food, means limited guests, means no air-bnb, means no investors, means prices drop, means you lose when you eventually leave your miserable apartments.

You’re stuffing not only with the restaurant, but a way of life the public and visitors have enjoyed for well over 30 years. Here’s an idea, sell your unit while the sales are good and move to Kohuna! 😘

Renée Renee

Body corp needs to go ! They come here from down south and are trying to ruin a place us locals love ! It’s about time us locals stood up and said enough is enough and try save Dolphin Heads …. Otherwise you might as well just say goodbye to yet another amazing place that us locals enjoy !!!

Vicky Slack

When I used to conduct weddings in Mackay, the body corporate tried to refuse entry to the wedding deck overlooking the ocean, even though the wedding couple and most of their guests were staying in accommodation at the resort.

Thank goodness for Lyn who saved the wedding day by getting us access to the deck.

Heather Schaper

We used to enjoy Dolphin Heads until our last visit. I feel for the restaurant owner trying to make a living.

Nicholas Stevenson

Why not just charge a small entry fee. For non guests. That way it can offset the body corporates costs

Amanda Parker

The body corp tried to ruin my wedding there 2 years ago.

Completely destroyed the deck that overlooks the ocean the weekend before it.

We were very lucky for Lyn and Jess who rescued it for us.

He needs to pull his bloody head in.

Emma Woods

So frustrating to see what was a fun, family resort with a thriving restaurant and bar now turned into a tired exclusivist retirement village. The BC has set the restaurant up to fail.

What do you think? Have your say in the comments below!

Originally published as What you said about Whitsunday Waters pool feud: Restaurant, body corporate clash