General News
3 June, 2026
Attempts to appease boatie
CASSOWARY Coast Regional Council says it tried unsuccessfully to persuade Mission Beach-based tourism boat operator Bry Penfold to tender for a berth at the Clump Point jetty so he could continue his services to Dunk Island,
Mr Penfold appears to blame council for his company’s decision to pull the pin on its Dunk Island ferry service and move away from the Far North altogether.
As The Observer reported last week (27 May edition), Myroo-Dunk Island Reef Adventures told its social media followers and customers it would not be returning to conduct the Mission Beach-Dunk Island service after a long-running dispute with council.
The dispute, which started last October, was over specific pontoons and bays of the council-managed Clump Point Boating Facility Clump Point Myroo’s vessel, QuickCoast, could and could not use.
In a statement, council said it had recently conducted a public tender for all commercial pen berths and swing moorings at the facility. The tender closed on 18 May 2026. “Mr Penfold was invited to submit a tender for a berth if he wished to continue operations at Mission Beach,” the statement said.
“He chose not to submit a tender.
“Council has engaged openly, honestly, positively and respectfully with Mr Penfold at all times, including up to the week before the tender closed.”
Mr Penfold said in his original social media post: “QuickCoast by Myroo is very sad that we are to announce that, despite our best efforts to reconcile with the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, we have made the difficult decision not to return QuickCoast operations to Mission Beach”.
“Even with further investment in infrastructure, we no longer have confidence in the management approach following numerous events, actions and representations made since early 2023, shortly after agreeing to relocate QuickCoast from Cairns to Mission Beach after many meetings with council at the time,” he said.
Mr Penfold also complained in his post “following a number of decisions and ongoing operational difficulties affecting our business, including matters relating to The Spit camping area (on Dunk Island), we have ultimately concluded that continuing operations under the current circumstances is no longer commercially or operationally viable.”
The newspaper attempted to contact Mr Penfold to elaborate on his comments about The Spit camping area but did not receive a response.
Council said in its statement “council cannot speculate on Mr Penfold’s issues with the Dunk Island Spit camping area. Council has no issues with the lessee.”
“The Clump Point boating facility is owned by the Queensland Government and is managed by the council under a management plan that focuses on safety and use obligations,” the statement said.
“Mission Beach is well serviced by providers including Mission Beach Dive, Mission Beach Adventures and the Dunk Island Group that offer regular boat transfers between Mission Beach and Dunk Island,” the council statement said.
“Additionally, Dunk Island Group offers free shuttle transfers and accommodation and a restaurant on the island,” it said.
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