Media Releases

Calling All Youth of Moree Plains

Youth Week 2025 is just around the corner, and we’re excited to celebrate with YOU.

Throughout Youth Week and the April holiday period, we’ve got an EGGSellent lineup of activities to make it an unforgettable time. Here's a sneak peek of what's in store:

🎧 Silent Disco – Dance the night away in a totally unique way!
🍪 Cookie Classes – Perfect your baking skills and create delicious treats.
🎬 Movie Screenings – Grab your popcorn and enjoy a movie with friends.
🎩 Easter Hat Parade – Our Home schoolers will be getting creative and show off their Easter hat designs.
🐰 Easter Eggstravaganza – Families, join us at the Moree Community Library for:

• Make-your-own Easter Basket crafting
• A thrilling Easter Egg Hunt
• A special surprise guest – Keep your ears open… you never know who might hop by! 🐇

Important: Some events may require registration, so be sure to check the details and pre-book where needed! Bookings can be made by calling the Moree Community Library on 0267 573 374.

We can’t wait to see you there! Let’s make Youth Week 2025 one to remember.

$5million Investment for Terry Hie Hie Road Upgrade

The Federal Government has announced a significant $5 million investment into the upgrade of Terry Hie Hie Road under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (SLRIP). This funding will help enhance our local road network, ensuring safer, more reliable transport routes for residents, businesses and emergency services.

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government Minister Catherine King made the announcement, marking a significant investment in the ongoing improvement of road networks across rural Australia.

Mayor Susannah Pearse welcomed the funding, saying, “Our road network is extensive, and we need all the external funding we can get. This is a huge win, and we look forward to more announcements like these, supporting rural Australia in the lead-up to the election.”

The funding, combined with an additional $1.25 million from Moree Plains Shire Council, will allow for the upgrading and bitumen sealing of 4.9km of the Terry Hie Hie Road (SR101) north of the Gwydir/Moree Plains Shire boundary. The project commencing in the 2025/26 financial year will incorporate an 8-meter-wide sealed surfaces, culverts and other critical road infrastructure improvements.

These upgrades will significantly improve connectivity and ensure reliable access for local communities and services. By improving the road network, the project will provide better links between the North West and New England regions, enhancing economic opportunities and quality of life for residents of the Moree Plains and surrounding areas.

Of the 235km between Moree and Tamworth on this most direct route, currently 12 km remains unsealed. All of the unsealed section of this route sits within Moree Plains Shire, and once completely sealed, this direct route will save around 25 minutes journey time between Moree and Tamworth compared to the alternative less direct route via Narrabri. 

The project will be completed in stages, with future works including improvements to bridge structures and the sealing of additional sections of the road. These efforts align with Council’s long-term vision to support the delivery of improved, safer and more productive roads across our Shire.

Moree Plains Shire Council was one of 14 new projects under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (SLRIP) to receive funding in New South Wales.

For further information on the SLRIP visit https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/about/local-initiatives/safer-local-roads-and-infrastructure-program

 Announcing the 2024-25 Small Business Fund Recipients

Council is excited to announce the successful recipients of the ‘Small Business Fund’ initiative for 2024-25 financial year, with $20,000 awarded to support four projects.

“The Small Business Fund aims to encourage and financially support positive economic activity that will contribute to the growth and progress of our Shire and it’s fantastic to see the great ideas, innovation and can-do attitude of our local businesses that submitted applications” stated Mayor Susannah Pearse.

Council received eight applications from diverse industries, and we would like to congratulate the following successful applicants for the following projects and initiatives:

The Small Business Fund is designed to help support and stimulate eligible small businesses with a one-off grant of up to $5,000. The funds can be used for a variety of business development purposes.

Council would like to thank all businesses who applied for the program and encourages small businesses with an idea to bring something new to our communities or a desire to boost their current services to apply in the 2025-26 financial year. Council will advertise when the next round of funding will be available. If your business is interested in being notified about future rounds of the Small Business Fund, make sure you are subscribed to our Business Burst newsletter.

For further information on the program, please contact Council’s Economic Development Team on (02) 6757 3222.                                                                                                                               

Photo -  Senior Grants Economic Development Officer Carly Cosh, Sarah Grant Owner 61 Balo Street with Mayor Susannah Pearse.

Request for Tender – Edward Street 450mm Distribution Main Replacement

 Moree Plains Shire Council (Council) is seeking submissions from appropriately qualified, suitably experienced and adequately resourced suppliers to complete the replacement of a 450mm Distribution Water, with the new main to be secured under the Dr Hollingworth Bridge, Edward St Moree under the following contract:

            ~ Contract – RFT25/06- Edward St 450mm Distribution Main Replacement

The proposal documents are available for download only by Vendorpanel 

The contact person for this request for tender is Lila Fisher via the Vendorpanel portal forum, which closes 1 day prior to closing the submissions.

A Mandatory pre-tender submission meeting on Thursday 27 February 2025, 11am AEDT, at the Moree Plains Shire Council Office, level 2, Max Centre 30 Heber St Moree NSW 2400.

Tenders may be submitted by the closing date and time, 6pm AEST 14 March 2025 to the online tender box on the Vendorpanel portal.

This Tender will be managed in accordance with the Moree Plains Shire Council Procurement Policy, the Local Government Act 1993, and the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021.

Celebrating the Freedom Ride: A Tribute to History Through Pictorial and Historical Collections

The Moree Plains Shire Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre is proud to present a special exhibition celebrating the legacy of the Freedom Ride and its lasting impact on the Moree community. This exhibition will showcase a series of significant pictorial and historical collections, providing a powerful reflection on the struggle for equal rights and the resilience of the local community.

To mark the opening of this important exhibition, a Morning Tea event will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday, 25 February 2025 at the Dhiiyaan Aboriginal Centre. Community members, elders, and visitors are invited to come together to honour this chapter of history and explore the newly acquired collections.

Dhiiyaan Collections Officer Raquel Clarke expressed the importance of this exhibition, stating:

"The Freedom Ride was a defining moment in Moree’s history, challenging discrimination and advocating for change. Through these collections, we are preserving the voices and experiences of those who fought for equality, ensuring that their legacy continues to inspire future generations."

Featured in the exhibition are:

• Pictorial Collections from the 35th, 40th, and 50th Anniversaries of the Freedom Ride – Capturing key moments of commemoration and community reflection.
• The Tribune Newspaper Collection – Donated by BAMM, featuring historical coverage of the civil rights movement and its impact in Moree.
• The Tribune Collection (returned to Moree in 2018) – Originally housed at the Yamba Museum, this collection was returned to the Moree community, reinforcing the significance of historical preservation.

(link below for an article by The Daily Telegraph)

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/grafton/pride-of-place-freedom-ride-honoured/news-story/9ddaf0c260214b8f85a6c82775c87018

• The John Williams Collection (2001) – Attitudes – A compelling series of photographs and interviews reflecting the lives and perspectives of individuals in Moree.
• Dhiiyaan’s Photographic and Historical Collections – A growing archive dedicated to preserving the stories, people, and events that have shaped Moree’s cultural landscape.

This exhibition is an opportunity to reflect on the past, celebrate progress, and continue the conversation about equality and justice.