Grand Mariner body corporate stoush: Power tower row at exclusive Gold Coast resort
A battle for control of one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious towers — home to city power players — has turned nasty and personal ahead of a looming AGM.
Lifestyle
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A BATTLE for control of one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious towers — home to city power players — has turned nasty and personal ahead of a looming AGM.
A rebel group of apartment owners at the Grand Mariner luxury residential resort on the Surfers Paradise riverfront has launched a bid to oust the existing body corporate committee.
The rebel group, calling itself the Owners Symposium, last month delivered a 13-page broadside to all 194 owners levelling allegations against the body corporate.
In a complaint to the Body Corporate Commissioner, it alleges concerns about spending, property reputation and asset value, and a lack of transparency.
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The anonymous Owners Symposium, who claim 70 fellow owners attended its first meeting, is urging owners to replace the body corporate with new committee members at Friday’s AGM.
The body corporate hit back with its own one-page letter to all owners two weeks ago saying it disagreed with “practically every claim made”.
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The exclusive residence, with a sinking fund worth an estimated $2 million plus, is normally a haven of tranquillity with 24/7 security, resort-like pool features, tennis courts, full gym and heated indoor pool. High-profile residents include real estate doyen Max Christmas and Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan who is also heavily involved in Gold Coast Airport and the Gold Coast Marathon.
The Symposium’s letter to residents also cites a body corporate suggestion for the building manager’s contract not to be topped up and there seemed an “agenda to remove the building manager”.
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“This dispute may lead into a large legal battle between the building managers and the (body corporate) committee and lower the value of our assets,” the Owners Symposium claim.
“This is not productive. The building managers own the reception and we could end up without a reception, cameras or intercom.”
The body corporate committee one-page response to all owners says: “We disagree with practically every claim made in those reports, as we consider them to be incorrect, or just matters taken out of their context, thus giving an incorrect view.
“We are totally committed to representing your best interests to the fullest and would be pleased to personally address any concerns you might have.”
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Body corporate chairman Alistair Dunnsaid accusations against his committee had at times been defamatory but he looked forward to the AGM: “I believe the issues will be resolved then.
“There is a lot of documentation circulated which has been very distressing for many owners. As a committee we decided to stand back and not get involved in a gutter dispute and respond in a tit-for-tat manner but rather just make ourselves available for discussions with any owner.
“It has been an extremely peaceful building until the question of management contracts was raised.”
Mr Dunn explained: “As a group we rather suggested the owners give themselves the opportunity to consider other models such as self managed etc which many other buildings are successfully embracing.
“It should not be personal and is no different to growing pains happening elsewhere on the Gold Coast as other buildings look at stepping out more from traditional management style contracts.
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“More buildings are stepping out from that model and disputes are happening.”
Owners at the distinct grape-coloured tower pay an estimated $300 a week in body corporate fees.
Two-bedroom apartments sell for $750,000 while ground-floor villas are estimated to be $2.5m. Upper-floor three or more bedroom apartments are $3m plus.
It is understood $3 million has been spent on the pool, painting the building and new lifts in recent years.
Mr Christmas, among the exclusive tower’s residents, said he was “100 per cent behind the current body corporate committee,” and described the dispute as a “small-time domestic problem,” similar to that taking place in other body corporates.
“There is a dispute with management over management rights which they hope to extend,” Mr Christmas said. “It is being handled in a professional way and compensation discussions have taken place.”
He said the Owners Symposium was a “handful of residents.”
Asked for his view of the Symposium, Mr Donovan said “you have to encourage people to have their views to achieve what they want to”.
But he added: “I don’t want issues and I want to live peacefully. Negatively publicity doesn’t increase the asset value and whatever is happening needs to be sorted out.”
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