Eleventh-hour plea from Couran Cove Island Resort community in turmoil

The embattled community on a Gold Coast island cut off from power and water due to a complex body corpo fees row has new hope of State Government intervention. Read the latest.

A resort boss on embattled Gold Coast island Couran Cove says he will embrace on offer from the State Government to step in and try to solve a body corporate stand off.

Couran Cove resort infrastructure operator Simon Napoli says he has taken up an offer from the Queensland government for crisis talks to discuss a solution for the island.

Mr Napoli said he wrote a letter to Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Steven Miles on Monday morning requesting a meeting and to discuss calls for the state government to help fund infrastructure for permanent electricity supply to the island resort.

“This could be the first step in resolving some of the historical issues that have plagued Couran Cove for over a decade,” he said.

“The issue between the body corporates is a complex situation, and that’s precisely the reason why it is so significant for the infrastructure operator to engage in the process of dialogue with government right now, and do as much as possible to limit the disruption to residents and staff.”

It comes after a group of prominent owners made an eleventh-hour plea for the state government to help fund infrastructure for permanent electricity supply.

The plea comes a day before power, water and gas services were due to be cut to the entire Couran Cove Island Resort on South Stradbroke Island.

Couran Cove service provider Simon Napoli sent a letter last month warning all 360 dwellings in the community would have their services disconnected on April 17 due to alleged unpaid body corporate fees.

Residents gather on the beach at Couran Cove Island Resort, South Stradbroke Island. Picture: supplied

Couran Cove property owner Dave Thompson said mains power available at the sand pumping station at the southern tip of the island could be extended to the resort.

“From what I can see, it would not be a difficult project to install cabling to allow mains power to be available to all residents on the island,” he said.

“I have floated this idea past a number of owners and they are in full agreement.”

A sign at the entrance to Couran Cove. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Mr Napoli said he welcomed talks with the state government to progress the idea and called for urgent intervention before services were disconnected from 10am Monday.

“We are again respectfully requesting the state government immediately intervene and enforce a situation of independent management to protect the mums and dads who have made such a significant investment in Couran Cove,” he said.

Residents of Couran Cove at a community meeting on Sunday. Picture: supplied

A government spokesman said any formal requests for further meetings would be properly considered.

“While the situation at Couran Cove is the result of private disputes that are currently before the courts, the Queensland government is continuing to support impacted residents,” he said.

About 70 residents who had chosen to stay behind attended a community meeting at the resort on Sunday.

Resident Mick Reichle said the meeting was peaceful and provided residents the opportunity to talk and share emergency information.

“We went through an agenda covering the basics, allocated jobs to people and organised a list of volunteers,” he said.