COSSACK TOWN SITE — SALE
1183. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the minister representing the
Minister for Lands:
My question without notice is asked
on behalf of Hon Jacqui Boydell, who is away from the chamber on urgent
parliamentary business.
I
refer to the minister's recent press release titled ''Interest
sought to activate unique Cossack townsite'', and multiple
advertisements indicating that the whole town site is for sale.
(1) What is the
current status of any leasing arrangements in which the state government has an
interest in relation to Cossack?
(2) Is the town
site of Cossack for sale; and, if not, can the minister please give an
explanation for the many sponsored Facebook ads from various real estate
agencies indicating that it is for sale?
(3) How many parties have
registered interest in purchasing the town site?
(4) What does the government intend
to do with funds acquired through the sale of the town site?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank Hon Jacqui Boydell for some
notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the
Minister for Lands.
(1) The
Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is in the process of removing an
expired lease to the City of Karratha from a number of crown land parcels at
Cossack. Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd has been offered, and has
accepted, a crown lease over a small portion of the town site to support its function in undertaking general maintenance and
interim management of Cossack while the state progresses the
registration of interest process to activate and develop Cossack.
(2) The state government has called for registrations
of interest for a unique opportunity to activate the historic Cossack
town site. The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage engaged a local agent
to attract proposals for consideration through a marketing campaign. Print
advertising and signage in the town site is part of the marketing campaign, and
a standard template was used by the local agent. Advertisements and signage are
being adjusted to more clearly reflect that this is a registration of interest
process. Should a successful proponent be found, the state government will
negotiate the management of the assets, subject to all relevant approvals, including
native title and heritage conservation considerations.
(3)–(4) The registration of
interest process remains open until 2.00 pm on 20 November 2020.