Businessman ‘furious’ after residents raise safety concerns for disabled, elderly at Couran Cove Island Resort

The NDIS watchdog has been asked to investigate concerns raised for the elderly and people with disabilities living at Couran Cove Island Resort.

The state government has called in the NDIS watchdog to investigate concerns raised for the elderly and people with disabilities living on South Stradbroke Island through a support program.

It comes after Shannon Fentiman and the director-general of the justice department met with the CEO of Couran Cove Island Resort and the director of two companies which control utilities to the island, Simon Napoli, last week.

The action was taken after the Bulletin last week revealed residents of Couran Cove Island Resort had raised concerns for elderly and people with disabilities who were participants of the Better Living in South Stradbroke (BLISS) program.

The issues highlighted by other island residents included concerns over the safety of facilities and grounds on the island and questions over the sufficiency of care being provided.

Ms Fentiman said the safety and well-being of seniors and people with a disability were a priority.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“The Queensland government and the Department of Seniors and Disability Services has progressed this matter to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission,” the Attorney-General said.

BLISS is a program of Wellness Australia Group, a company directed by Brisbane businessman Lachlan McIntosh.

The group described the complaints as a “load of vindictive rubbish”.

A BLISS spokesman said it would welcome any NDIS staff to visit the community.

“We are confident they will find what the recent NDIS independent audit found – and that is BLISS is a very safe, happy and productive community for NDIS participants,” he said.

“We work with a small group of NDIS clients who have chosen to make South Stradbroke their home.

“They love the BLISS programmes and the community lifestyle they have living on South Stradbroke.”

A mobility scooter in the Couran Cove Island Resort. Picture: Tertius Pickard

EARLIER:

Residents of a troubled island resort have raised safety concerns for elderly and people with disabilities in a support program operating in their community - but the operator calls it a “load of vindictive rubbish”.

The program’s spokesman also added management were “quite furious” after the Bulletin asked questions about them, citing an independent audit for the NDIS.

Participants of the Better Living in South Stradbroke (BLISS) program have been residing on the rundown Couran Cove Island Resort on South Stradbroke Island for two years.

The concerns highlighted by other island residents include claims of unsafe facilities and grounds on the island and claims of insufficient care being provided.

BLISS is a program of Wellness Australia Group, a company directed by Brisbane businessman Lachlan McIntosh.

The company’s website stated its aim was to “improve the quality of life of people living with disability and their families by providing integrated support, wellness and lifestyle programs within inclusive communities that are set in beautiful locations”.

BLISS residents are not restricted to the program’s parts of the island but have access to the whole of the resort.

There is no suggestion that the parts of Couran Cove BLISS residents live in are unsafe.

Couran Cove resident Mick Reichle, who has a disability support background, described the grounds of the resort as “unsafe for people with disabilities”.

Inside Couran Cove Island Resort

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It had “many hazards” including rotting wood on the boardwalk and exposed wires, he said.

The Bulletin sighted fallen trees, rotting wooden structures, piles of industrial rubbish, trip hazards, smashed glass, signs warning of demolition works and caution tape when it visited public areas of the island in mid-February.

Mr Reichle said he flagged concerns about the program with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) months ago.

Rotting wood on the boardwalk at Couran Cove. Picture: Melanie Whiting

An NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission spokeswoman said its priority was the safety and well-being of participants.

“We are working with the provider and participants who live at Couran Cove Island Resort to ensure their safety and well-being, and that they are receiving good quality supports,” she said.

“Due to privacy considerations, we cannot provide further comment.”

A broken light with exposed wires in the general store area. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Couran Cove resident Anthony Swords - a debt collector for Gatto Corp, which uses the surname of underworld identity Mick Gatto - said he previously raised concerns about the care being provided to BLISS residents directly with Mr McIntosh.

“I have seen people with disabilities wandering around the island crying for their mums - walking around the island at one o’clock in the morning,” Mr Swords said.

“I had concerns for their safety because obviously it is an island surrounded by water.

“My main concern is (participants) do not have adequate carers.

“I do not think the clients are adequately cared for. I certainly would not want any relatives of mine cared for in that way.”

A pile of rubbish. Picture: Tertius Pickard

But in a letter responding to Bulletin questions, Mr McIntosh’s lawyer Steve Miotti said Wellness Australia Group investigated Mr Swords’ claims at the time and found “no facts to support the claim”.

The Bulletin contacted Wellness Australia Group, BLISS and Mr McIntosh for a response to the concerns raised.

Couran Cove Island Resort spokesman Patrick McGuire responded to the questions on behalf of Mr McIntosh.

“BLISS is not part of Couran Cove. It is a separate community on South Straddie,” the spokesman said.

“I am assisting (Mr McIntosh) on a pro bono basis because of the good work that Wellness does, which I have supported for many years.”

A damaged boardwalk at Couran Cove. Picture: Tertius Pickard

He said Wellness Australia Group was an NDIS provider and as such, was required to undergo quality safeguard audits to keep its registration.

“Wellness Australia Group was subject to an audit by an independent auditor for the NDIS in November last year,” the spokesman said.

“That auditor provided a detailed report with no non-conformities and positive feedback to allow it to continue as a registered NDIS provider.”

A bungalow in a state of disrepair at Couran Cove. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Wellness Australia Group provided the Bulletin with a copy of its NDIS mid-term audit report dated November 2022.

The report noted the audit was conducted remotely using techniques such as teleconferencing, phone calls and file sharing due to Covid-19 restrictions at the time.

The report concluded that no non-conformities were raised and it complied with the requirements of NDIS Practice Standards Core Module.

Long-running issues plaguing the island community came to a head more than two weeks ago, when electricity and water were disconnected to dozens of homes in Couran Cove amid allegations of unpaid levies.

BLISS residents did not have their services disconnected.

The Couran Cove spokesman added: “Under the NDIS guidelines, NDIS participants can choose where they live. They choose to live on South Stradbroke.”

Please note: A previous version of this article reported the Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman had called in the NDIS watchdog to investigate concerns raised for the elderly and people with disabilities living on South Stradbroke Island.

The matter was in fact referred by the state government and Department of Seniors and Disability Services. The Bulletin apologises for any confusion caused.