Levy payments may be discounted, but in NSW that’s only permissible for Owners’ early payment of their contributions and it’s limited to 10%.
The malaise that you describe is one of the biggest hurdles that Owners Corporations face, and whilst there’s no guarantee, a Motion (in bold) on the Meeting Agenda to increase Levies by 100% may get Owners’ attention!
On a more serious note, if the Meeting’s adjourned due to the lack of a quorum, then 30 minutes after the listed commencement time for the re-convened Meeting, those few Owners with sufficient interest to attend can have their way.
So I don’t see why the lack of interest by the majority is an impediment to the committed few such as your friends to then ensure that their Plan’s property operated, unless the Strata Manager holds sufficient proxies to determine otherwise; but why would a professional Strata Manager do that?