Balladonia Homestead. Photo: Dave Riggs.
The historic Balladonia Homestead at Israelite Bay is one of a small number of properties to be granted a rates discount of about 50 per cent.
Acting Shire president Jennifer Obourne said the others were 21 properties in “Development Area Number 3” along Johns, Ocean and Parsons Streets in Sinclair.
“Years ago someone in England drew lines on a map and said that was going to be a residential property,” she said.
“But in reality it’s massive sand dunes, and no one’s ever going to develop that.
“So people who purchased it, the Shire offers to buy those lands back from them because we know that they’re never going to be developed.”
Miss Obourne said some owners did not want to sell.
“We think it’s right to offer them a discount because we know that they’re not getting affordable service the same as every other house in town,” she said.
Ms Obourne said the same applied to the historic homestead.
“It’s 40 km past the last farming property, so there’s no services there,” she said
“So that person’s already investing funds in having to try and up keep that and not let it deteriorate any more than it is.
“But again, we’re not providing them any services, so it doesn’t feel fair to rate them the same as someone in the CBD.”
