Battle to keep the lights on
RESIDENTS of an embattled South Stradbroke Island community say electricity has been cut to 100-plus homes as disputes play out over allegations of millions in unpaid levies.
A scuffle broke out between a man and security guard at Couran Cove Island Resort the same day electricity cuts kicked in on Wednesday. Police were on the island to keep the peace.
But a spokesman for the Couran Cove resort operator claimed the forecast cuts situation – revealed by the Bulletin earlier this week – had “improved” after one body corporate on the island coughed up funds. The spokesman added two remained in limbo.
Couran Cove Island Resort residents received a letter last week warning electricity, gas and water would be disconnected indefinitely on Wednesday due to claims of millions of dollars owed under body corporate service agreements.
There are five body corporates involved on the island, with complex court proceedings playing out about the allegations of millions of dollars in unpaid levies.
“The forecast situation has improved and the proposed restrictions have not been fully implemented,” a Couran Cove spokesman said on Wednesday.
“One of the bodies corporate has agreed to advance unpaid levy funds to the operator and these funds will be used to continue electricity services to residents in the Marine precinct as well as other areas of Couran Cove.
“The issue remains focused on the refusal by the Eco and Broadwater Bodies Corporate to pass on to the operator levies that have already been paid by the owners but which the two bodies corporate are refusing to release,” he claimed.
Eco Body Corporate chair Dave Bowden said it had insufficient funds to “make any substantive offer that would satisfy any demands”. “I can tell you our current administration accounts are less than $20,000,” Mr Bowden said.
“We are told we owe over $20m which we strongly dispute. Also these disputes are currently before the courts.
“We’ve not received any suggestion as to what amount would keep the lights on or the water flowing. In the past if demands were made they were always more than we could afford.”
An eco cabin resident said electricity had been cut off to 102 eco cabins and 24 villas on Wednesday.
They reported water supply had also been disconnected to eco cabins on Wednesday afternoon.
The Bulletin contacted the Couran Cove operator spokesman for an estimate on how many people on the island had their electricity disconnected, but it did not provide a figure.
Couran Cove apartment owner Tony Duncan was on the island when electricity was cut off. He said some residents living in the island’s BLISS community – which provides affordable housing for pensioners, people with disabilities and those on limited wages – had relocated off the island.
Mr Duncan said other BLISS residents had moved to other parts of the island still connected to power.
“The guys in eco cabins are fairly prepared as it has happened before,” he said. “People are a bit fed up with being the meat in the sandwich.”