Why Couran Cove Island Resort service provider Simon Napoli is ‘hopeful’ of island lifeline

The service provider who cut power and water to hundreds of homes in a Gold Coast community due to alleged unpaid fees says he remains ‘hopeful’ of intervention on the island.

The service provider who cut essential services to hundreds of homes in a Gold Coast community due to alleged unpaid fees says he remains “hopeful” of government intervention on the island.

Couran Cove Island Resort infrastructure operator Simon Napoli said he wrote to Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Steven Miles on April 17, several hours before power, water and gas were disconnected to homes.

Couran Cove boss Simon Napoli. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The purpose of the letter was to request a meeting to discuss calls for the state government to help fund infrastructure for permanent electricity supply to the island resort, he said.

This would involve the extension of mains power supply from the southern point of the island to affected communities on the rest of the island.

It came after a state government spokesman said any formal requests for further meetings would be properly considered.

Aerial view of the Couran Cove Island Resort.

“(We are) hopeful of Queensland government intervention to help resolve the long-running body corporate dispute impacting Couran Cove - with one potential solution put forward by residents now being considered by the office of Energy Minister Mick de Brenni,” Mr Napoli said.

“We look forward to hearing back from Mr de Brenni’s office about whether they are open to having a meeting to discuss the suggestion.”

The Bulletin has sighted emails from Mr Miles’ office noting the matter came under the portfolio of Transport Minister Mark Bailey.

Another email sighted from Mr Bailey’s office stated the matter came under Mr de Brenni’s energy portfolio.

“As the matters you have raised fall within the responsibility of the Honourable Mick de Brenni MP, Minister for Energy, your email has been forwarded to his office for consideration and direct response to you on behalf of the Palaszczuk Government,” the email from Mr Bailey’s office stated.

Originally published as Why Couran Cove Island Resort service provider Simon Napoli is ‘hopeful’ of island lifeline