Body corporate showdown looms on Friday at Chevron Renaissance towers in Surfers Paradise on Gold Coast
A body corporate stoush at a Surfers Paradise apartment complex is set to boil over on Friday with the treasurer promising to ask the chairman to resign.
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A BODY corporate stoush at a Surfers Paradise apartment complex is set to boil over on Friday with the treasurer promising to ask the chairman to resign.
The conflict at the Chevron Renaissance apartment buildings follows the dumping of former security manager Michael Marcanelli after 13 years of service.
Mr Marcanelli claimed he was axed after he raised concerns about lift maintenance and replacement contracts signed off by the committee.
Mr Marcanelli is pushing for an EGM to make changes to the strata committee.
He needs 25 per cent of the owners to call the meeting and claims he already has the support of 172 owners who have signed his petition. There are 713 apartments in total in the complex.
Mr Marcanelli has the support of committee member Stan Martinovic and treasurer Deborah Trussell. The five other members are against his bid, including Ms Blackhurst and Mr Casbolt.
Ms Blackhurst failed to return calls yesterday while Mr Casbolt declined to comment.
Ms Trussell will ask Ms Blackhurst to resign on Friday.
Mr Martinovic told the Bulletin he had been verbally abused by Ms Blackhurst.
In an email to owners, Ms Blackhurst said the accusations of abusive behaviour were false.
Ms Blackhurst said an EGM would cost $20,000 and may end up with her as well as Mr Casbolt retaining their positions.
She said the money would be better used to fix the garbage chutes, which she said would cost $80,000.
She said it was a witch hunt and a security contractor had been upset about the possibility of losing their contract.
EARLIER: MARCH 13
A POPULAR Gold Coast security manager at a major Surfers Paradise complex claims he was dumped from his job and evicted from his unit because he opposed a push to change lift providers.
Michael Marcanelli worked at Chevron Renaissance for 13 years as a subcontractor to COH Security.
Mr Marcanelli said after frequently raising the issue of lifts breaking down at the three-tower complex, he was sent a list of approved security subcontractors on February 12 this year with his name missing. Six days later he alleges he was evicted from the unit he rented.
He claims the action was taken because of his opposition to the lift services provider changing from Kone to ThyssenKrupp in late 2019.
The Bulletin contacted the body corporate committee and was referred to body corporate managers Holmac Strata.
A representative for Holmac Strata said: “We’re not in a postion to comment.”
Mr Marcanelli said he worked at Chevron for 13 years with no issues until the owners voted at an extraordinary general meeting in December 2019 to change from Kone to Thyssenkrupp. The deal included maintenance and almost $1 million to replace four lifts in tower one.
Owners followed a recommendation from consultant Elivate to choose Thyssenkrupp over Kone.
“I told (the committee) they should not have changed companies and the lifts did not need to be replaced,” Mr Marcanelli said.
“Kone maintained the lifts since the buildings were constructed with no issues. I did not think it wise to change providers.”
Mr Marcanelli said after Thyssenkrupp won the contract, the lifts broke down frequently.
Mr Marcanelli claimed people were trapped in the lifts at times and the internal phones failed to work.
He said he tried to raise the issue with the body corporate committee but was repeatedly told it was not his place.
A number of residents in the complex have told the Bulletin about ongoing issues with lift maintenance.
One tower three resident, who would not be named, said the situation became so bad that they had only one our of four elevators working in his building over the Christmas period.
“We have one elevator here that hasn’t been working for four months,” he said.
The man praised Mr Marcanelli, saying he had never given them “an ounce of trouble”.
“When we came here my wife suffered from a stomach condition and he was the one who offered to obtain the medication she needed.
“There were two occasions when she needed to go to hospital and he provided a wheelchair for her. He made sure the ambulance got up to our residence.
“I can name half-a-dozen other elderly people who he has assisted.”
The Bulletin visited the towers recently and found all four lifts working in tower one and one lift out of action in towers two and three.
Stan Martinovic, who sits on the body corporate committee, said he wanted to keep Kone as the contractor but was overruled.
“I said ‘listen, we’re better keeping Kone because these are Kone lifts and we’re better off having them,. Ever since (Thyssenkrupp) took over we have had nothing but problems.”
He said Mr Marcanelli was removed because he opposed the lift provider being changed.
Shirley Coleman, who has lived at Chevron for eight years, said she was “shocked” to hear Mr Marcenelli was gone.
“I’m getting on for 85, if ever I need help or advice he’s at my door in my five minutes.
“I can't speak too highly of Michael. He’s a gentleman and lovely natured guy.”
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