The upgraded Tycannah rest areas on the Newell Highway, about 17 kilometres south of Moree. Photo: Moree Online News
Drivers can now use flushable toilets and new amenities at both Tycannah rest areas on the Newell Highway. The sites are about 17 kilometres south of Moree. The $12 million overhaul of the northbound and southbound sites was complete as of 9 October 2026.
When the sites reopened in April, four portable toilets served motorists while permanent amenities were still to come. Crews had reconfigured and resurfaced the sites, adding 150 metres to the northbound area.
The finished work includes more truck parking and dedicated spaces for caravans. Trucks and light vehicles have better separation, with upgraded lanes for entering and leaving the highway.
The Australian and New South Wales governments jointly funded the work through the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Rest Area initiative. It falls under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program. New South Wales Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison said fatigue remained one of the biggest killers on regional roads.
The Newell links Melbourne and Brisbane through the Moree Plains as the main interstate freight route. The two Tycannah stops now have space for up to 30 heavy vehicles between them, giving drivers room to take a break off that freight route.
