High-flyer circles troubled Qld island resort

A high-flying Melbourne property developer says he’s “very open” to investing in troubled Queensland island resort Couran Cove, and has a message for its embattled residents.

High-flying Melbourne property developer Ross Pelligra has confirmed his interest in troubled Gold Coast island resort Couran Cove but wants a bitter stoush which has seen power and water cut to dozens of homes sorted first.

Mr Pelligra says he’s “very open” to investing in the South Stradbroke Island resort.

Couran Cove Island Resort

The Courier-Mail revealed on Thursday that the multi-millionaire developer had established a mystery company called Villas on Stradbroke Pty Ltd with Couran Cove operator Simon Napoli.

Mr Pelligra is developing a $480 million Ritz Carlton hotel and superyacht marina at Mariner’s Cove at Main Beach in partnership with another development industry identity, Dean Giannarelli.

Mr Giannarelli is the father of former Married At First Sight star Dion Giannarelli and the ex-partner barrister and Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gina Liano.

Dion Giannarelli, Ross Pelligra and Dean Giannarelli at the Ritz-Carlton Gold Coast announcement,

Mr Napoli, a Sydney businessman and property adviser to the Catholic Church, is embroiled in a bitter dispute with residents and body corporate officials at Couran Cove on South Stradbroke Island.

Simon Napoli

Companies linked to Mr Napoli last week cut off water, power and gas to dozens of residents amid claims that more than $20 million in body corporate fees had not been paid.

The dispute has led to rising tensions between residents and resort staff, including scuffles with security guards, and police have been called to the island to keep the peace.

Police at Couran Cove Island Resort.

A scuffle between a man and a security guard at Couran Cove Island resort. Picture: 7 News

Couran Cove Island Resort residents protest gas being cut off in 2022

Sources have told The Courier-Mail that Dean Giannarelli attended a breakfast at The Langham Gold Coast hotel last December where he told guests, who included Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Glitter Strip tourism and property industry executives, that he had just bought Couran Cove.

He denied this when contacted but he and Mr Pelligra released a statement on Friday clarifying their position.

“Mr Pelligra and Mr Giannarelli looked into partnering with Simon Napoli in Couran Cove last year to develop a hotel and (undertake) a renovation of the existing resort,” they said.

“Upon completion of the due diligence process, it was decided to put the partnership and development plans on hold. Both parties do not have any involvement in the current situation.

“Mr Pelligra is still very open to further discussions once all the body corporate issues are resolved.”