Couran Cove Resort’s phone, internet services down as defiant residents live ‘off-the-grid’

Phone and internet services were cut at Couran Cove Resort over the weekend, with authorities investigating whether it is linked to a bitter body corporate dispute.

Embattled Couran Cove Island Resort where a bitter body corporate dispute is playing out.

Phone and internet services were reportedly cut at an embattled Gold Coast island resort over the weekend, leaving residents even angrier.

Couran Cove Resort on South Stradbroke Island has been in the grip of a bitter body corporate dispute which has seen essential services including power and water cut.

The sewerage system was shut down on Friday by resort operator Simon Napoli, but dozens of defiant residents are staying put, vowing to live “off-the-grid”.

The Telstra tower at Couran Cove. Picture: Supplied

However, they say they were left without phone and internet services after resort generators were turned off on Friday. These services were restored Sunday afternoon.

The resort has a Telstra tower.

A Telstra spokesman said it was unclear if the outage was related to the dispute and power being turned off but an investigation was underway.

Before the services were restored Sunday afternoon he said a technician was on the island, connecting a generator to the tower to restore phone and internet services.

The outage also affected dozens of residents at the neighbouring Couran Point resort.

Mr Napoli has accused body corporates on the island of failing to pass on more than $25m in body corporate levies, but residents claim he and his associates are responsible for most of the arrears.

Some residents took to social media to vent their anger.

“So lucky there wasn’t a medical emergency or natural disaster while it was down,” one person posted on the South Stradbroke Community Facebook page.

“Some prior notice would have been just common decency.

“Thanks Telstra for your quick response, you’re legends.”