Opportunity to Address Council - Open Public Forum March 2021

Opportunity to Address Council - Open Public Forum March 2021

At its next Council Meeting, Moree Plains Shire Council (Council) is inviting community members to be part of the open public forum on Thursday 11 March 2021 at 4pm.

The public forum provides an opportunity for community members to address Councillors on any issues or topics of interest or concern, relevant to the Moree Plains Shire.

Having regard to the COVID-19 Public Health Orders and regulations for social distancing and gatherings, community members seeking to address Councillors in person need to pre-register prior to the meeting and provide detailed information regarding their query. To register, please contact Deena Murray, Executive Office on 6757 3222 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 4pm on Tuesday 9 March 2021.

While members of the community are still welcome to attend the public forum in person, if the number of attendees exceeds the maximum capacity of the Council Chambers, members of the public will be asked to wait outside and be invited into the Chamber to address Council.

Alternatively, community members are invited to provide a written submission for the Councillors’ consideration, which will be read out by the General Manager and addressed by Councillors at the public forum. To submit a statement to be addressed at the public forum, please provide the statement to Deena Murray, Executive Office by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 4pm on Tuesday 9 March 2021.

When submitting a statement, community members are requested to provide a complete statement and note if they intend on addressing Councillors in person.

Members of the community who intend on addressing Council in person at the public forum should review the following public forum guidelines:

Speakers must comply with Council’s Code of Meeting Practice (Public Forums) section 4, page 8. If a speaker fails to observe a direction from the chairperson, the speaker will not be further heard. Each speaker is allowed three (3) minutes to address the Council. Speakers must not digress from the item on the agenda that they have applied to address the Council on. A councillor may direct a question to a speaker, through the chairperson, and the time limit for the answer to a question is three (3) minutes. A speaker is under no obligation to answer a question put to them by a councillor. A speaker cannot ask questions of the Council, councillors or council staff. Speakers must refrain from engaging in disorderly conduct, publicly alleging breaches of the Council’s Code of Conduct or making other potentially defamatory statements. Legal representatives acting on behalf of others are not permitted to speak unless they identify their status as legal representative when applying to speak. Written, visual or audio material presented in support of a speaker’s address to the council will form part of the minutes of the meeting and a copy must be provided to the Council.

Please note: The maximum time allocated to the public forum will be thirty (30) minutes however this may be extended by resolution of Council.

Community members addressing the public forum in person or through a written submission should be mindful that you are providing permission for Council to include your details in the Minutes of this Council Meeting and the Council Meeting will be recorded.

The conduct of the forum will be in accordance with Council’s usual requirements, including the Moree Plains Shire Council Code of Meeting Practice, the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) and NSW Local Government (General) Regulations (2005).

Links: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice