MOREE Plains Shire Council general manager Natalia Cowley has resigned.

Ms Cowley was employed as interim general manager in January last year, and was appointed to a permanent position 12 months ago.

“It has been an absolute privilege to serve the Moree Plains community and to work alongside the mayor, councillors, staff, community groups and contractors over the past 15 months,” Ms Cowley said.

“This is a community with enormous heart, resilience and potential and I feel genuinely grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute.

“I’m proud of what we have achieved together as part of our refocus, reset and renew strategy.”

Ms Cowley cited the restoration of financial sustainability, resetting the capital works program and clearing two years of audit qualifications as key achievements during her tenure.

She said reopening long-overdue, key community assets, refreshing village halls with the help of committees, filling empty shops in the Max Centre, automating manual processes and strengthening accountability and service delivery across the organisation were also accomplished.

“I have deep respect for the drive, ambition and passion that the mayor has for this community and I sincerely thank the councillors for their support, trust and confidence throughout my tenure,” Ms Cowley said.

“This decision has been driven solely by the opportunity to return home to my family in the Hunter and take up the general manager role within my own local government area – but I’ll continue to cheer on Moree Plains from the sidelines,” she said.

Natalia Cowley, pictured here at the 2026 Australia Day awards ceremony, has resigned at Moree Plains Shire Council general manager.

Moree Plains Shire Council mayor Susannah Pearse thanked Ms Cowley for her contribution to the shire.

“We are incredibly grateful to have had Natalia at the helm for the past 15 months,” Cr Pearse said. “She is an adept GM who will leave the Moree Plains with a lasting legacy and with budgets, governance and integrity systems, and work programs restored to strong levels.

“The community has seen the impact of Natalia’s work first-hand during the past month, with the reopening of our hot artesian pools and the Moree Memorial Hall – projects that had been on the books for a long time, but needed the right focus and leadership to bring them to a close,” she said.

“Natalia’s determination to deliver for our community has set new standards for our team and processes, and as a council we will strive to ensure this positive trajectory is maintained.

“Undoubtedly, Natalia will leave behind a lasting impact on Council and the shire, and the many changes for the better she has implemented will continue to bear fruit well beyond her tenure.

“Council understands that a new opportunity – and a new challenge – has arisen for Natalia, and we respect and understand her desire to be close to her family.

“We are grateful for her contributions and wholeheartedly wish her and her family the very best for the future,” Cr Pearse said.

Ms Cowley will continue in her role until June 18, 2026.

A report considering recruitment for the general manager’s position will be presented to the May 21 Ordinary Council Meeting.