Roadblock To Cossack Revival Disappoints City

THE City of Karratha says it is disappointed the State Government rejected council plans to reactive the historic ghost town of Cossack, 1500km north of Perth.

As first reported by StreetWise on October 1 (www.streetwisemedia.com.au/state-sinks-historic-hopes), Planning Minister Rita Saffioti knocked back a proposed scheme amendment to allow low-key developments at the popular tourist site.

The decision has infuriated landowners and council, which sent a staffer to Perth last week to discuss the issue further with planning authorities.

“Council has bent over backwards to try and reactivate Cossack,” landowner Stuart Otto said, describing as inept the State Government’s handling of the decades-long dispute over how to redevelop the first port in the Pilbara.

“One of their main policies is tourism and they knock back Cossack? The City needs to walk away from Cossack. We are losing money here and the Government is not stepping up.”

He said Cossack was the, ‘jewel in the crown of the Pilbara’, which each year hosts the Cossack Art Awards, hundreds of artists taking part in the richest acquisitive art prize in regional Australia.

Mr Otto says he plans to put down a concrete pad and sea containers on his 2000sqm property as a way of, “making my piece of land as obvious as possible”. An eyesore.

Landowner Terry Patterson agreed, but said in this case either the City had submitted a half-baked scheme amendment that did not tick the boxes for the WAPC or the State had, for political reasons, decided to prevent development at Cossack despite its tourism agenda for the Pilbara.

He said the City amendment would have allowed landowners to provide their own power, water and sewerage and low-key tourist accommodation.

Though disappointed at the outcome, the City says, “despite the setback we will continue to work with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage to explore options and manage Cossack as requested by the State Government”. Ms Saffioti’s office was contacted for comment.

Wickham-Point Samson Roebourne-Cossack-Pastoral Ward Councillor Garry Bailey, who is up for re-election next Saturday, did not want to comment about the latest Cossack debacle: “Until such time as I’m elected, I am not really interested at the moment.”

However, he told StreetWise he would like to see Roebourne, Wickham and Point Samson get a fair deal from the City of Karratha, “more recognition, that’s what I’ve always wanted”.

“Look at Karratha and then come and have a look at Roebourne. Do they look similar? Not really, no. Does it look like a lot of money has been spent in Roebourne?” he said, adding the recent redevelopment of Victoria Hotel was just one building.

“Roebourne people, especially indigenous people, love it here. It will always be their town, that will not change. Roebourne needs a bit of TLC by the looks.”

Mr Patterson said Mr Bailey was sitting on the fence: “If Roebourne needs TLC, so too does Cossack and Point Samson.”

Wickham-Point Samson Roebourne-Cossack-Pastoral Ward candidate Clinton Walker was contacted for comment.

More stories about Cossack at www.streetwisemedia.com.au.