Couran Cove Island Resort: Shock breakthrough in South Stradbroke Island saga
There has been a major update for dozens of residents of an exclusive island resort who have been without gas supply for six weeks. DETAILS
Gold Coast
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THERE has been a shock breakthrough in the ongoing saga plaguing residents of an exclusive Gold Coast island.
Dozens of residents living in South Stradbroke’s Couran Cove Island Resort have been without gas after their supply was turned off in mid-August due to safety concerns.
But after six weeks with no hot water or heat for cooking, residents have finally been told when they can expect their service to return.
In an email to eco cabin residents on Thursday morning, Community Body Corporate chairman David Rosenblum said it would start the process of converting to bottled gas supply from early next week.
“The materials can be barged across to the island, the agreements should also be ready in the coming days and we can now start a program of new installations from early next week,” Mr Rosenblum’s email stated.
“We will provide further correspondence as to the agreements and the installation process.”
A CBC spokesman said the new gas supply was made possible after Lagoon and Marine Bodies Corporate “worked together and recovered sufficient levies to enable” the gas works.
“As part of the new installation there is a requirement to ensure that the residence is compliant with the current legislation,” the spokesman said.
“This legislation is different to the legislation when the cabins were built 21 years ago.
“The licenced gas fitter must provide documentation of compliance of all the gas appliances in the dwelling prior to the gas being able to be turned on to the individual dwelling.
“This will mean that the gasfitter will be required to access the inside of each dwelling, with the owners consent, prior to being able to provide this certificate.
“Priority will be given to those with special needs , but the whole installation will be done over 10 to 14 days.”
The resort is a wholly self-sufficient mixed-use development and the community body corporate is responsible for services including power, sewerage treatment and water supply.
Last week, residents called on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the state government to step in to resolve the issue.
Residents face six weeks without hot water on exclusive island – September 23
RESIDENTS of an exclusive Gold Coast island have been offered temporary accommodation as their wait for hot water and heat for cooking stretches into the six-week mark.
Dozens of residents living in South Stradbroke Island’s Couran Cove Island Resort have been without gas after their supply was turned off in mid-August due to safety concerns.
Almost six weeks on, residents still don’t know when they can expect their services to return.
The resort is a wholly self-sufficient mixed-use development and the community body corporate is responsible for services including power, sewerage treatment and water supply.
Last week, residents called on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the state government to step in to resolve the issue.
Queensland’s Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said despite the state government having no authority to intervene in the matter, it was working with residents to find a solution.
“Recent body corporate issues at Couran Cove involve complex commercial arrangements, allegations of large amounts of unpaid debts, body corporate governance issues and other matters,” a spokeswoman for the Attorney-General said.
“The Attorney-General has been working with a number of residents for months to see what support government can provide.”
The spokeswoman said this included potential improvements to body corporate legislation and the offer of temporary accommodation and support services to help those affected.
The Department of Energy and Public Works is working towards offering free dispute resolution services under the Energy and Water Ombudsman.
A Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman said while it was not the city’s role to maintain services or associated infrastructure at Couran Cove, it was concerned about the disruption of critical services on the island.
“The city also understands that Couran Cove is subject to a complex body corporate structure and is supportive of the Attorney-General’s consideration of issues pertaining to the body corporate governance,” she said.
Police called after tensions erupt on South Stradbroke Island – September 15
THE situation on an exclusive Gold Coast island has reached boiling point after a blind woman called police to an alleged altercation about a gas bottle.
Legally blind South Stradbroke resident Judi Williams alleges she was confronted by the island’s Community Body Corporate member Darren Philip for having a gas bottle connected to her house.
The run-in occurred about 10.30am Wednesday and resulted in Ms Williams calling the police.
Police said they were called to a dispute at South Stradbroke Island, but after further discussion with the caller, they were told they were no longer required.
A CBC spokesman refuted Ms Williams’ claims, saying Mr Philip was trying to keep the owner from attaching a gas bottle to the operator’s infrastructure.
Ms Williams said Mr Philip entered her property and refused to leave.
“I’ve had PTSD before, I’m blind and I live alone,” she said.
“I don’t want him anywhere near my property.
“I started to shake because he gives me PTSD.
“He (Mr Philip) refused to leave and kept trying to talk to me about my gas bottle … It's just chaos.”
Ms Williams installed the gas bottle at her eco cabin because dozens of residents at the Couran Cove resort had been without hot water and heat for cooking since mid-August.
Evacuation warnings about a major explosion led to the gas supply being turned off.
The CBC warned residents against organising their own gas supply.
A CBC spokesman said Mr Philip never entered Ms Williams’ property and stayed on common property.
“He did not enter anyone’s property, and acted strictly in accordance with the by laws of Couran Cove,” the spokesman said.
“He was (verbally) abused for trying to keep this owner from putting the whole resort at risk of fire by … attaching a gas bottle to the operator’s infrastructure.”
The spokesman said Queensland government gas inspectors detached the gas bottle because it was a “potential serious hazard”.
South Stradbroke residents are calling on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the state government to step in to restore gas services to residents on the island.
Resident Sara Skipworth said the community gathered on the island on Wednesday to get their message across to Ms Palaszczuk.
“We’re sending a message directly to the premier to intervene and help restore our basic services at this place that is a tourist destination on the Gold Coast,” Ms Skipworth said.
The Bulletin contacted the Premier’s office for comment. It did not reply before deadline.
Desperate plea for basic amenities on exclusive island – September 13
Desperate residents of a Gold Coast island are pleading for the Attorney-General and State Government to step in to restore basic services stripped away from them a month ago.
The group of South Stradbroke Island residents gathered on the beach, writing a giant “help no gas” in the sand as a direct plea for help.
A spokeswoman for the group of disgruntled islanders, Sara Skipworth, said they were forced to act after exhausting all other avenues.
“No authorities will support us, so what do we do? We take desperate measures,” Ms Skipworth said.
“We just want our voices to be heard and for action to be taken.”
Eco cabin residents at the Couran Cove Island Resort have been without hot water and heat for cooking since mid-August after evacuation warnings about a major explosion led to the gas supply being turned off.
On September 2, the Community Body Corporate (CBC) said it would take two months to change over the system to bottled gas.
Residents have been boiling water in buckets for bathing and were told they could buy gas cookers from camping stores for hot meals.
Ms Skipworth said residents had not received any support and were feeling “alone and unprotected”.
The Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman and the State Government were their “best hope for justice”, Ms Skipworth said.
“We think the state can help us,” Ms Skipworth said. “They have power to help resolve this situation or at least make an impact on it.”
The CBC wants to make all owners on the island help pay for repairs to the gasworks and water treatment plant.
It is understood motions to raise a special $100,000 levy are expected to be considered at an extraordinary general meeting this week.
CBC chairman David Rosenblum said a levy was being raised to pay for expenditure on the gas service “along with other things”.
“All owners share the cost of the services to the resort as owners would in any body corporate,” he said.
“The various body corporates will be sent a levy notice if the expenditure is approved and those body corporates must then send a levy to individual owners to pay their share of the expense.
“All subsidiary bodies corporate have been kept fully informed of progressive developments which they pass on to all owners in their respective precincts.”
Ms Fentiman said she told the city council to investigate “the state of amenities, utilities and other safety issues at Couran Cove Island Resort”.
“While ensuring safety of residents in relation to the recent possible gas leak I also understand the disconnection has serious impacts for residents.”
“Given the long-term nature of recent ongoing disputes and effects on residents, the Department of Communities and Housing has contacted affected residents to offer assistance – I would encourage any resident who needs assistance with temporary, alternative accommodation to contact their local Housing Service Centre.
“I share the concerns of David Crisafulli and have responded to his correspondence, outlining the steps Government has taken and noting residents have also been encouraged to seek independent legal advice on and engage any legal options available to them to resolve the gas supply issue.” The Department of Energy and Public Works had intervened in previous utility disputes to ensure residents had access to the free dispute resolution services provided by the Energy and Water Ombudsman.
It was “the appropriate entity to assist if the gas supply issue is not resolved” Ms Fentiman said.
She added: “I have personally met with a significant number of Couran Cove residents to discuss their concerns and directed the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, as a matter of urgency, to develop potential improvements to the legislation governing body corporate schemes such as the Resort.”
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Originally published as Couran Cove Island Resort: Shock breakthrough in South Stradbroke Island saga
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