The long awaited activation of a Pilbara ghost town is a step closer to fruition after the Lands Minister approved a scheme amendment that would open the area up to shops, artists and a boutique heritage experience. The once vibrant town, 15km from Roebourne, was host to thousands of people digging for gold during WA’s pearling and gold mining boom but by 1910 was dissolved and then abandoned. It was previously managed by the City of Karratha and has had a myriad of issues impacting its development including a special control area provision preventing development not connected to power, scheme water and reticulated effluent disposal. In July 2020, the City of Karratha ended its 24-year lease to manage the town and handed responsibility back to the State Government. The Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation Limited were announced as the successful proponent for the reactivation of Cossack in December that year with plans including low-impact, environmentally friendly developments centred on camping and glamping. A Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage spokesperson said the Department has worked with the city to amend the local planning scheme to reclassify land use on the site from Urban development and Conservation, Recreation and Natural Landscapes to “Tourism“. “Changes were also required to replace the existing Cossack Historic Town Special Control Area with a new special control area,” they said. “On June 8, the Minister for Planning gave final approval to the Cossack and Jarman Island scheme amendments, as part of the city’s local planning scheme. “The amendments provide for low-impact tourism activities and the ongoing activation of existing heritage assets.” Cossack Activation Committee chair Kate Osterhoff said the local scheme amendment had needed significant amendments to allow physical development at the town site. “Part of that plan is that we reactivate and re-purpose some of the beautiful old heritage buildings here to be better utilised, including shops and workshop spaces for artists,” she said. “The vision is to short term improve the hostile offering but eventually offer a kind of more boutique heritage experience there but ultimately, also develop a beautiful nature base campground.” Ms Osterhoff said before the scheme amendment was passed it was impossible to put a shovel in the ground to begin the reactivation. She said the NYFL were hopeful of having a permanent nature based campground set up next year behind One Tank Hill. “We’re hoping about 40 higher end but nature-based campsites with a kind of communal amenity camp kitchen to allow for that camping with custodians experience,” she said. She said in the meantime plans were in place to upgrade the cafe and establish a general store. “I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved in such a short amount of time. I think the announcement as preferred proponent gave NYFL the confidence and certainty it needed to really double down on its its efforts,” she said. The department spokesperson said it was preparing an archaeological and enthographic management strategy and undertaking geotechnical investigations which are expected to be finalised by the end of the year.