Cossack ratepayers abandoned by local and state governments

THEY have paid rates, fees and government charges for decades. Occasionally, they stand on their empty blocks overlooking Butcher’s Inlet at the mouth of the Harding River, and ask why.
What is the point of waiting any longer for local and state authorities to lift development restrictions at Cossack, 1500km north of Perth. If they do not pay, they forfeit some of the best real estate on the Pilbara coast. The former pearling depot, now a popular fishing and tourism destination, is a State treasure.
As reported by StreetWise on this site, Cossack (formerly Tien Tsin) harbours a rich ‘living heritage’ in the remaining freehold landowners who are descended from and linked to the first European settlers in WA’s North-West. They are descendants of Cossack’s first ratepayers.
There are 22 blocks privately owned by 10 owners at the heritage-listed town site between Roebourne and Wickham, including Terry Patterson, South Fremantle resident and outspoken critic of local and state government plans to revitalise Cossack, and Alan Wilson, great great grandson of WA pioneer William Shakespeare Hall who died swimming at Cossack in 1895. Alan’s family hold titles on four blocks owned between seven descendants, making it the oldest rate paying family in WA.
The State owns most of Cossack. In 2015, after years of delays and political indecision, the Government offered landowners $25,000 for top lots more than 2000sqm in size. They refused, some owners having bought properties for $200,000 to $300,000 believing the City of Karratha would connect, which it did not, water, power and sewerage to the historic town. In 2020, landowners cannot park a wheelbarrow on their own properties. This is one of the reasons they have called on WA Parliament to resolve the land tenure issue before they fall off the perch, many now old and dying and too tired to continue lobbying for change. But the sting is in the thousands of dollars they pay each year in rates and charges.
Landowners are preparing supplementary questions to parliament following the City of Karratha’s decision last month not to renew Cossack’s management lease which expires on June 30. How much of the McGowan Government’s $425 million Pilbara Plan has been spent on tourism at Cossack, home to the prestigious Cossack Art Awards? What is the Government’s vision for the Pilbara ‘gem’? Why won’t the government negotiate a fair deal with landowners?
StreetWise will publish the Government’s answers once they are tabled in parliament, expected on May 12. In the meantime, visit our other stories at www.streetwise.com.au to find out why local and state governments have failed to revive Cossack as a thriving tourism ‘village’ for locals and visitors to enjoy.