Residents refuse to share lifts as body corp stoush lashes The Palmerston

Infighting at a Gold Coast residential tower has escalated following months of rows and injunctions to authorities with some residents refusing to share lifts with one another.

INFIGHTING at a Gold Coast residential tower has escalated following months of rows and injunctions to authorities with some residents refusing to share lifts with one another.

An ongoing rift between residents in the Palmerston Tower at Southport has split the body corporate in two.

It is alleged by some residents that four members (many long standing) of the seven-person committee at the 47-unit complex refuse to work with the other three.

Multiple complaints have been sent to the Body Corporate Community Management Commissioner (BCCMC). They include issues over the return of keys and validity of meetings.

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A major body corporate dispute is bubbling at Palmerston Tower at Southport.

Some residents claim the standoff and delays for the Commissioner has meant that important decisions on fire safety could not be made.

Others argue management could have fixed the fire safety concerns without waiting for the Commissioner.

The stoush comes a day after the Bulletin revealed one of the city’s wealthiest body corporates, at the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise, was in limbo as an internal war raged over who should control their $7 million-a-year body corporate fees.

The Palmerston Tower dispute erupted at a contested extraordinary general meeting on April 1 when some homeowners tried to replace a member of the majority of four.

Committee secretary Marie Smith-Taylor complained to the BCCMC that the meeting was not valid because a vote to cancel it was made a week earlier. Residents are paying $7000 a year in body corporate fees.

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Body corporate chair Rochelle Collins told the Bulletin the complaint stopped the body corporate from ruling on issues until a ruling was made.

This allegedly delayed major works, including the repair of heat detectors.

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“The Queensland fire service had asked us to rectify the situation, but because of the interim order we were unable to act and the adjudicator didn’t even get back to our requests,” Ms Collins said.

“We couldn't do a thing while the Commissioner made up their mind on who makes the decisions.

“There is no definitive legislation - you get told it is a very grey area.

“Some of the committee are not being acknowledged or included in discussions and our motions put forward.”

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The stoush comes a day after the Bulletin revealed one of the city’s wealthiest body corporates, at the Chevron Renaissance in Surfers Paradise, was in limbo as an internal war raged. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Mrs Smith-Taylor claims the split in the committee had been caused over whether or not to renew the building manager’s contract, which expires in July 2020.

“They (three committee members) are seeking an extension of the current contract which is at odds with the majority of the committee who wish to test the market by going to tender with a new contract which is more favourable for owners and less favourable for the managers,” she alleges.

Building manager and resident Katy Latimore denied any disagreements were due to the upcoming management rights contract.

“I think it is insulting to suggest unit owners votes have been influenced,” she said.

“It is people making up their own mind over the body corporate they want.”

Mrs Smith-Taylor denied claims three of the seven body corporate committee members had been ignored during the meetings.

She said that relationships had broken down within the building.

“It has gotten to a point where people won’t share a lift or even a good morning.”

The Commissioner ruled against Ms Smith-Taylor’s application in late July.

Despite agreeing to a number of her points, the Commissioner said the motions at the meeting on April 1 were upheld.

An annual general meeting is set to take place next week.