The remote Western Australian ghost town of Cossack in the Pilbara is set to be redeveloped with cafes, a cultural centre and eco-village style accommodation.
The WA Government has announced Pilbara Aboriginal corporation, the Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Foundation (NYFL) has been named as the preferred proponent at the end of an Expression of Interest process.
Lands Minister Ben Wyatt said the organisation had been selected for its plan to "activate and enhance the Cossack townsite to create a tourist destination with unrivalled visitor experiences".
"With such a strong cultural connection to the land, existing built heritage assets and a pristine coastal landscape, Cossack will provide a mix of offerings to suit all tourists and interests," Mr Wyatt said in a statement.
NYFL to nurture the memory
NYFL CEO Bruce Jorgensen said the foundation was very excited about being chosen.
"Looking after, nurturing and caring for the town of Cossack is something we've been doing for the last three years," Mr Jorgensen said.
"We put in what we thought was a really robust Registration of Interest.
"Clearly the Department and the Minister liked it and now they'd like to have further discussions to flesh that out."
Mr Jorgensen said there would be a focus on the ancient Aboriginal culture and history of the area, as well as the modern history, including the darker side of Cossack's history, when Aboriginal people were forced to work as pearl divers.
"Cossack is iconic: It's the first original port in the north west of WA and it's a place that's so dearly in the heart of local people and visitors," he said.
"The government was keen to find someone to totally activate the place, bring it to its full potential but at the same time protect the area.
"It was important that an Aboriginal-based organisation was tasked with that because they have the sensitivities to look after the original Aboriginal heritage, the exploration of some of the darker parts of Cossack's history around blackbirding and slavery through pearling, but also develop the area in a mainstream way that makes it a place that's enjoyable for people to visit and be part of."
Is it for sale or not?
The placement of For Sale signs in Cossack during the Expression of Interest process led to some confusion about whether the heritage-listed town could be sold.
Mr Jorgensen said NYFL was still in negotiations with the Government on the terms, whether leasehold, freehold or a mixture of both.
"It is totally open to negotiation; we really haven't got a preference so we'll work hand in hand with the Department to make sure we have the best outcome for everybody involved," he said.
"We really look forward to making Cossack a fantastic place for everyone."
