Media Releases

Get Ready and Be Prepared! Recovery and Resilience Day

Council, with the support of the Namoi/Gwydir Rural Fire Service and the NSW State Emergency Service – North Western Zone, will host a free Recovery and Resilience Day on Saturday 21 September from 10am to 2pm in Jellicoe Park, Moree.

The fun-filled, family-friendly day out will include emergency vehicle displays, information stalls, free Grab and Go bags and giveaways.  The community also have the opportunity to take off their shoes and walk across the Big Map, a giant aerial floor map of the Gwydir Catchment. 

The event will bring together emergency service organisations, government and non-government organisations.  It will connect communities with organisations that respond to emergencies and disasters and help the community prepare and recover from them. 

Council will be launching its readiness campaign and will be distributing free ‘Grab and Go’ Bags to the community.  The waterproof bags contain a range of vital information regarding who to contact in an emergency, as well as information about agencies designated to assist with recovery.   The bags will provide safe storage for important documents, as well as providing checklists as to what to include.

Sandy McNaughton, Community Recovery Officer with the Moree Plains Shire Council is encouraging the community to come down to the park for a fun and informative day out.  “Anticipating a disaster and ensuring that communities are in the best possible position for their recovery should be the new normal. 

Unfortunately, we don’t have to look far to see that weather events are becoming more frequent and larger in scale.  Providing the community with the opportunity to engage with emergency management and recovery services is an important way to identify risks, as well as discuss ways we can better prepare our livelihoods, infrastructure, homes and businesses for events that may occur in the future.  In this way, the focus is firmly on building the community’s capacity to recover from future disasters.”

The day coincides with the NSW Rural Fire Service Get Ready Weekend.  As the bushfire season approaches, NSW residents and landowners must be aware of their risk and take steps to protect their homes and properties. There will be plenty of information, as well as a free BBQ provided by the Lions Club of Moree, a jumping castle and wonderful free entertainment.

Tian Harris 

Moree resident Tian Harris has been nominated for the Australia Local Legend Award while being nominated to be added to the NSW Government Hidden Treasures Honour Roll.

The Awards Australia Local Legend Award acknowledges those individuals making a significant contribution at a local level. There are many selfless people who, through their actions, have positively impacted the lives of others and their local or regional community.

Tian has dedicated her life to the Moree community through her volunteer work, and Tourism and her passion for both history and Moree is remarkable.

"I love living in the Moree Plains, our history, cultures, villages and community make our Shire such a beautiful place to live, I encourage everyone here today to take a trip to our Moree Shire there's lots to explore but most importantly our residents are the most beautiful people you will ever meet, our Shire is the best in Australia. Come and see us!," spruiked Tian to a reporter.

Tian Harris was Moree’s Citizen of the Year in 2022 and named the 2024 Northern Tablelands Local Woman of the Year for her outstanding contribution to the local community.

Winners for the Awards Australia Local Legend Award will be announced in November, the Shire wishes you all the best Tian! 👏

Non – Designated Development Application DA2015/42

Council is currently considering an application from Mr. T Beattie, for 4 Lot Subdivision, on 9 Sunnyside Road MOREE, 7 Sunnyside Road MOREE, LOT: 1 DP: 792569, LOT: 23 DP: 1272753, LOT: 24 DP: 1272753.

The development application and accompanying documents may be inspected below.

DA2015423 - Bushfire Assessment Report [SMK] - 9 Sunnyside Road MOREE - Stage 2 - 4 Lot Subdivision
Amended Statement of Environmental Effects - Modification # 2 - 4 Lot Subdivision - 9 Sunnyside Road MOREE - LOT 1 DP 792569
Amended Subdivision Plan - Modification # 2 - 4 Lot Subdivision - 9 Sunnyside Road MOREE - LOT 1 DP 792569
DA2015423 - Report on Filling of Blocks at 9 Sunnyside Road MOREE [SMK] - 9 Sunnyside Road MOREE - Stage 2 - 4 Lot Subdivision

and on the NSW Planning Portal, for a period of 14 days from the date of this notice.

Any person may make a written submission in respect to the proposed development clearly stating their name and address and should the submission be an objection, the grounds must be specified.

Submissions must be made in writing to the General Manager and can be lodged electronically, by mail or fax before 5.00pm on 18 September 2024.
A hard copy of the Plan is available from Council’s customer service centres, level 2 30 Heber Street, Moree.

Your feedback and comments are welcomed and can be submitted to the General Manager, Moree Plains Shire Council, PO Box 420, Moree NSW 2400. Comments can also be submitted to Council by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please note that submissions may be disclosed to Councillors, council officers, consultants to Council, or members of the public in accordance with Section 18(1)(b) of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998. Submissions, summaries of submissions, and names and addresses of persons making submissions may also be included in publicly available reports relating to the development application. Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, Council must also allow inspection of any submissions it receives and allow persons to make copies.

However, if you consider that disclosure of your place of living would put your or your family’s personal safety at risk, you can apply to Council under Section 739 of the Local Government Act 1993 which requires that requests for protection of privacy be made in writing to the General Manager. The request is to give particulars of the relevant risk to the person and is to be verified by a statutory declaration by the person making the request or by some other person.

It is a requirement that all Political Donations and Gifts are reported to Council by completing a Disclosure Statement form.

Further enquiries in relation to this Policy should be directed to Darryl Fitzgerald on (02) 6757 3222.

September – Rural Road Safety Month – Stay Safe Behind The Wheel

Council is supporting the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) in an effort to reduce road risk in regional areas as part of Rural Road Safety Month this September.

Rural Road Safety Month, which promotes awareness of the increased risks of travelling on and around our regional roads, such as increased speeds, road conditions, and emergency response and retrieval times. All road users must consider how they can uphold road safety.

Despite regional areas being vastly less populated than urban centres, fatalities on rural and regional roads account for about two-thirds of the road toll every year, with 811 lives lost in 2023.

“Every one of us plays a crucial role in reducing road trauma and ensuring that every journey on a regional, rural or remote road is a safe one,” Mayor Mark Johnson said.

The rate of serious road-related injury in rural areas is also nearly twice as high compared to major cities.

Rural Road Safety Month – an initiative of the Australian Road Safety Foundation (ARSF) – runs throughout September, prompting the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to issue an urgent reminder to all drivers to take additional care and heed safety warnings.

Hootin’ Hollerin’ Happiness

A much-needed dose of laughter, happiness and connection is due to be served up across the Moree Plains Shire.

Council is proud to present a number of iconic Australian bush dances occurring in Moree, Pallamallawa, Gurley, Mungindi and Garah during the month of September.  The magical events will provide a rare opportunity for communities to kick up their heels in what will be an unforgettable event, and it's all free!

These community bush dances are part of the Ricochet Community Recovery series of events which are designed to enable social recovery and connectedness. The bush dances are a perfect fit to assist and support people to develop connected, sustainable, resilient and inclusive communities.

“The traditional Australian bush dance is a dying art. There are very few bush dance bands left in rural Australia who are dedicated to keeping the art alive.

Special guests, Swamp Dawkins, are renowned as one of the best Australian bush dance bands in the country. Swamp Dawkins hail from Sydney and are well versed in interpreting rollicking bush songs with Australian pride. The dances, ranging from colonial to contemporary, are expertly taught and called to ensure everyone of any skill level can join in,” explains Sandy McNaughton. 

The exciting combination of fiddle, rhythm and lead guitar provides foot-stomping music that is set to deliver an unforgettable night that is guaranteed to have everyone on the dance floor all night long.

Whereas once the bush dance was once firmly entrenched in the social fabric of life in rural Australia, it is slowly disappearing from our communities. As an all-ages event, this memorable night provides the next generation with the opportunity to experience this uplifting, joyous sense of fun. It also gives them the opportunity to understand why bush dances have played such a critical role in social cohesiveness and connection.

Bookings for this fabulous event are essential as a light supper/BBQ will be provided.  Further details are available on Council’s website www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au or by contacting Sandy McNaughton, Community Recovery Officer 0429 596 312.

So, get your hats, heels, boots and hollerin’ organised, be prepared for a whole lot of fun and to be transported to a place of pure joy! Yeeeeehaaaaaa!

Moree - Moree Services Club - Wednesday 25 at 6:30pm
Pallamallawa – Pallamallawa Hall, Thursday 26 September at 6.30pm
Gurley – Gurley Hall – Friday 27 September at 6.30pm
Mungindi – Long lunch, Narrabri Street 28 September at 5.30pm
Garah – Garah Hall, Sunday 29 September at 5pm