MOREE Plains Shire councillors last Thursday voted to note for information Taylor Oval Feasibility report 16.4 concerning the proposed construction of a 50-metre swimming pool complex at Taylor Oval.

Director of Planning and Development, Darryl Fitzgerald, told councillors and members of the public in the gallery the purpose of the report was to provide Council with an update on the feasibility of constructing the complex.

“This report is simply providing an update on where actions in relation to Taylor Oval are at, following council’s resolution in July when draft models for Taylor Oval were presented to council, following on from feasibility assessment undertaken by NSW Public Works,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

Councillors Debbie Williams, Wayne Tighe and Dominique Hodgkinson voted to note for information the Taylor Oval Feasibility report 16.4, with councillors Brooke Sauer, Fred McGrady and Kelly James voting against.

Deputy mayor Wayne Tighe, who chaired the meeting in the absence of mayor Susannah Pearse, cast the deciding vote.

He said at the weekend, the report was an update on the review of the site listing under Heritage NSW.

“The report was tabled so we can have clarification to move forward,” Cr Tighe said.

“It’s a contentious issue, but the report wasn’t asking councillors to take a position on Taylor Oval or make any decisions about the future of the site. The report is merely an update for councillors and ratepayers.”

At Thursday’s meeting, Cr Williams told councillors and members of the gallery “it’s just a report, and we’re not working on anything – it’s just an update”.

Moree’s historic Taylor Oval is the proposed site for a new 50-metre swimming pool complex.

Cr Hodgkinson agreed with Cr Williams.

“The recommendation is simply that council notes the report. We’re just being provided with information,” Cr Hodgkinson said.

“The purpose of these reports that come to council and why it’s been noted as information is because we made a commitment to the community to be transparent with the community.

“We’re not making any decisions today; we’re just receiving information. We’re receiving what (the public) is receiving as well, and that’s why it’s come to council today, so that (the public) gets the same information that we’re getting.”

Councillors James and McGrady are strenuously against the development of a pool complex at Taylor Oval.

“I’m against the report because I’m against the pool being on Taylor Oval,” Cr James told the meeting.

“I have no support for it being on Taylor Oval whatsoever, and I don’t believe it should go on Taylor Oval.

“And, if anybody’s checked lately, you’ll see the (old) pool is no longer leaking,” she said.

Cr McGrady stood with Cr James.

“My objection is that we got to this stage without any consultation about it at all with the Moree community, or with the Aboriginal community, as (it being) a significant site for Aboriginal people,” Cr McGrady said.

“It’s a burial ground, and there’s been no consultation at all until this decision was made by people that did not consult with the community. That’s my objection,” he said.

Council has requested Heritage NSW to undertake a review of the heritage listing placed on Taylor Oval.

“Since that time, Heritage NSW has come back and requested council do limited consultation and this report is just providing an update as to where that stands,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

Reports 17.6 and 16.4, as well as the NSW Public Works report are available to view below.

Heritage Listing AHIMS 10-3-0067 was registered in June, 2007 as a burial site based on a historical newspaper article from 1903.

The newspaper report in the Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser states “while two men were excavating soil on the block of land joining the Moree Cricket Ground, they came on a grave containing the remains of two bodies. The grave was about three-feet deep, and the bodies had been covered with an oppossum rug and bark”.

Enquiries found the remains were those of an Aboriginal man and his wife, who were buried there about 40 years earlier.

“The bones were gathered in a bag and removed for re-interment,” the newspaper reported.

Thursday’s ordinary council meeting, where there were no registrations from members of the public to speak, was chaired by deputy mayor, Wayne Tighe.

His role on Thursday marked an important chapter in the decades-long history of local government in Moree, with Cr Tighe becoming the first indigenous councillor to chair a council meeting in Moree.

Council also resolved to hold open public forums at ordinary council meetings in March and September next year.

During open and public forums, community members may speak about any matter relating to Council, provided they give notice of the subject to the general manager at least 72 hours prior to the ordinary council meeting.

Report 17.6. Taylor Oval Update

Report 16.4. Taylor Oval Feasibility Report

NSW Public Works Feasibility Report

Moree Plains Shire Council background information about Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre, updated on November 14, is available HERE.