A Christmas Message from General Manager Lester Rodgers

I would like to take the time to wish everyone a safe and relaxing festive season.

As we look back on what this year has brought to the Plains, from living with a pandemic, natural disasters, vermin infestation to our farmers yielding a good harvest, now is a time to reflect on the year of 2021 with the progress and milestones made across the Shire.

Some of the highlights for the Shire include:

✔️The completion of the Carrigan Road Upgrade Project, sealing the remaining 56 km road between Boomi and Mungindi.

✔️Securing additional funding for further road sealing of Terry Hie Hie Road. A fully-sealed road will cut down travel time between Moree and Tamworth, opening the Plains up to new tourism opportunities.

✔️Restoration and project works continued for the Moree Memorial Hall, sporting facilities and the Moree CBD.

✔️QantasLink – The air service between Moree and Sydney was extended for another three years.

✔️University of New England — In a partnership with Council, the university will provide “Moree-centric” short courses, that will offer more educational pathways for locals, and the business incubator hub (SRI @ Social Co), in collaboration with entrepreneur Tyler Macey, will open early in the new year.

✔️Environmental and Safety assessments were made of the burnt-out houses and the clean-up has commenced.

✔️A draft of the Moree Plains Local Housing Strategy is currently on exhibition. It aims to guide the future location and diversity of housing to meet the changing demographic profile of Moree Plains Shire. It also takes population growth resulting from the Moree Special Activation Precinct into account. It is essential that Council plans for this growth and ensures that new and diverse housing is available to meet the needs of all residents, now and in the future.

✔️The Special Activation Precinct’s Draft Masterplan was released for public exhibition.

In 2022, we can expect even greater things. While we said goodbye to long-serving Councillors, John Tramby, Jim Crawford, Sue Price, and Mayor Katrina Humphries, our newly elected Councillors begin their term in January and I am looking forward to working alongside them as we shape the Shire’s future. I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. May 2022 be a successful year for all of us on the Plains.

Lester Rodgers, General Manager