Couran Cove Island Resort residents told not to flush toilets in letter

Residents of Couran Cove Island Resort without electricity have been warned not to flush their toilets or face ‘significant fines’. FIND OUT WHY

Remaining residents of a Gold Coast island resort have been warned not to flush their toilets or face “significant fines” in the latest blow for the embattled community.

It comes after hundreds of Couran Cove Island Resort homes on South Stradbroke Island had their electricity cut indefinitely late Monday.

The entire community is expected to have sewerage, water and gas services axed in coming days.

Couran Cove’s marina has been closed off and ferry services were suspended.

A boom blocking boat access to the marina at Couran Cove. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Residents received a letter on Tuesday warning them not to put anything in their toilets or even flush them with a bucket of water.

“After the shutdown of the vac sewer system, if owners use their toilets there is a risk that raw effluent will discharge from the sewer pits,” the letter stated.

“This will result in a breach of the Act that obliges all Queensland residents in relation to Protection of the Environment.

“We will be required to notify the Environment Protection Authority if any such event occurs and we will advise the EPA of the relevant body corporate that has committed the environmental breach, which will most likely result in significant fines.”

A letter sent to residents warning them not to flush their toilets.

The letter was signed by Ed Hampson of the resort’s Community Body Corporate.

There are long drop toilets in Couran Cove, but the ramp to access them has been removed.

Couran Cove service provider Simon Napoli said these toilets were on private property and not part of the resort.

Mr Napoli sent a letter last month warning all 360 dwellings in the resort would have their services disconnected from 10am Monday, April 17, due to alleged unpaid body corporate fees.

It was alleged more than $25m was owed.

There are five bodies corporate involved on the island, with complex court proceedings playing out over the alleged millions of dollars in unpaid fees.

The ramp allowing access to long drop toilets at Couran Cove has been removed. Picture: Glenn Hampson

In a statement to parliament, Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said it would be difficult for the state government to appoint an independent manager for the resort in a bid to address the situation.

“I know that some members in this house and commercial operators have been calling for the government to somehow appoint an independent manager or administrator while this dispute plays out,” she said.

“And even if we could rush through complex legislative change to be able to do that, any manager would simply become another party to the ongoing legal disputes – meaning the parties would be right back where they started.

“It is also not clear to the government in whose interest an administrator or manager would be working for – potentially resulting in additional legal disputes and challenges.”

Charity president Bernd (Ben) Brauer, from the New Beginnings charity, has lost power to his unit on Couran Cove and was locked out of his office on the island, despite him signing a two-year lease. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Ms Fentiman said the best thing the government and Gold Coast City Council could do was provide ongoing support to the community.

“The government will continue to monitor the situation and provide support to residents as appropriate, while we await the outcomes of the current court proceedings.”

Mr Napoli said he was continuing to work with the government and had written a letter to Deputy Premier Steven Miles to request an urgent meeting.

“We look forward to hearing back from Mr Miles’ office as we believe this could be the first step in resolving some of the historical issues that have plagued Couran Cove for over a decade,” he said.

Originally published as Couran Cove Island Resort residents told not to flush toilets in letter