It's an outback town which stakes its reputation on striking it rich, but Coober Pedy's council is in a deep debt hole. Two years ago it was sacked for financial mismanagement and this year it was further sanctioned for cutting the power and water, which it manages to Aboriginal residents, who couldn't afford to pay off their debts. Some customers were charged for non-existent debts and died in credit, while others were forced to live without power.