Liquidator appointed to South Stradbroke Caretaking Services over $124k debt

A court has ordered the liquidation of a caretaking company at the troubled Couran Cove over a giant debt to a water treatment and sewage operator.

A court has ordered the liquidation of a caretaking company at a troubled Gold Coast island community due to a giant debt to a water treatment and sewage operator.

The Supreme Court of Queensland made the order to appoint a liquidator to South Stradbroke Caretaking Services after water engineering firm Simmonds & Bristow applied for wind-up action over a $124,000 debt.

Simmonds & Bristow director David Bristow said his water engineering company began work on South Stradbroke Island in August 2019.

The marina at Couran Cove Island Resort. Picture: Glenn Hampson

He said staff walked off the Couran Cove Island Resort site in February due to the debt.

“Our role was to operate and maintain the water treatment and sewerage plants within allocated funds,” Mr Bristow said.

“We are very glad and comfortable that the court has granted the application to liquidate the company so that further harm to other creditors is no longer possible.”

David Bristow, managing director and principal engineer at Simmonds & Bristow

Liquidator Gavin Morton, of Morton & Lee Insolvency, said he was still in the process of gathering information after being appointed last week.

“I still don’t have a sealed court order,” he said.

“I don’t have too much to say at this point in time. I don’t even know who the creditors are.”

Liquidator Gavin Morton, of Morton & Lee Insolvency

Mr Morton said he had not spoken with South Stradbroke Caretaking Services director, Salisbury man William Doolen, 77.

Mr Doolen was only appointed a director in February.

Attempts to reach him for comment have been unsuccessful.

Last month, Couran Cove infrastructure operator Simon Napoli confirmed South Stradbroke Caretaking Services was one of the resort’s contractors.

Couran Cove infrastructure operator Simon Napoli

At the time, Mr Napoli said any questions relating to the company should be addressed by its director.

About 50 Couran Cove residents remain living at the resort after their power, gas and water were cut in February amid a bitter body corporate dispute.

Their sewerage system was shut off earlier this month after Mr Napoli claimed his companies were owed more than $25 million in outstanding levies.

Residents maintain they have paid their levies and claimed Mr Napoli and his associates owed the majority of arrears.

Remaining resort residents have vowed to stay put and live off-the-grid using water tanks, generators, solar panels and gas bottles.

Couran Cove resident Rhonda Dalgleish said those remaining still had access to warm showers and were using bucket water to flush toilets.

“We have really rallied together now and I can see us living off-grid here forever,” she said.

Originally published as Liquidator appointed to South Stradbroke Caretaking Services over $124k debt