State Stalls Cossack Revival
COMMENT: HISTORIC Cossack will remain a ‘ghost town’ following the McGowan Government’s rejection of local council plans to reactivate the popular tourist destination, 1500km north of Perth. The WAPC and Planning Minister Rita Saffioti last month rejected the City’s town planning scheme amendment 44 to allow low-key developments at what Cossack landholders describe as, ‘the jewel in the crown of the Pilbara’. Labor Minister Fran Logan called Cossack the, ‘Broome of the Pilbara’.
Ms Saffioti’s office has refused StreetWise requests to explain exactly what provisions in the council’s proposed amendment did not ensure development would not have, “a significant adverse impact”, on the heritage and visual landscape values of the 156-year-old townsite.
WAPC secretary Sam Fagan wrote to Karratha CEO on September 6 stating council had not demonstrated that the impact of coastal hazards, “on most of the land subject to the Amendment can be appropriately managed”.
Additionally, appropriate investigations had not been undertaken to, “guide the determination of foreshore areas”, nor had the City demonstrated the disposal of wastewater on land within the Amendment area would not have significant adverse impacts on the environment or public health.”
The City told StreetWise on Wednesday it was disappointed at the outcome but, “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”.
Premier Mark McGowan promised to inject millions into revitalising towns such as Cossack under the Labor Party’s 2017 ‘Plan for the Pilbara’: “A McGowan Labor Government will invest $425 million over 5 years to promote WA and showcase our beautiful state including Millstream Chichester National Park, Karijini National Park, historic Cossack and the Burrup Peninsula.”
Landowner Stuart Otto has told StreetWise the City of Karratha had bent over backwards to try and reactivate Cossack, but now it was time to walk away as the WA Government, “is not stepping up.”
Landowner Terry Patterson said the decision further delayed their hope of building on currently empty blocks for which they continue to pay rates.
Mr Patterson said the decades-long dispute over how to redevelop Cossack had seen landowners die, “their last breath fighting, owners have gone bankrupt and lost everything”.
The amendment would have allowed them to build on their blocks and a long running saga over the future development of Cossack.
According to the December 1, 1969 issue of Hamersley News, “Western Australia has its share of ghost towns mainly scattered across the State’s goldfields but none has a more fascinating history – and future – than Cossack, the first port to be established on the North West coast”.
