The Moree Champion received contradictory reports yesterday from a number of involved parties.

An undated press release from the NSW Environmental Defender’s Office stated that “with the assistance of the NSW Environmental Defender’s Office, legal proceedings were brought in the Land and Environment Court against the Minister for Planning and (Moree Plains Shire) Council, and in the Supreme Court against the Minister for Lands.”

The release also stated “the Moree Murri Taskforce was successful in both proceedings. For now, Taylor Oval remains Crown land dedicated for public recreation.”

However, a spokesperson for the Minister for Lands Tony Kelly, said “the matter is still before the court and in this case, the Supreme Court.”

The Supreme Court has a court date set for November 26 for the Lyall Munro and Wayne Nean v the Minister for Lands case. There are no proceedings listed with

the Moree Plains Shire Council.

Mayor Katrina Humphries agreed that the court case was scheduled for November and that there were no legal proceedings taking place involving the Moree Murri Taskforce and the council.

“The Murri Taskforce is not on any legal documents. It’s Lyall Munro Snr and Wayne Nean,” Cr Humphries said.

“That court case is coming up in November,” she said.

When speaking to the Moree Champion, the NSW Environmental Defender’s Office indigenous solicitor Neva Collings said Mr Munro Snr and Mr Nean were nominated spokespeople for the Moree Murri Taskforce.

Mr Munro Snr said “we were successful, naturally we’re pleased with that. It remains as a sporting centre.”

“This decision, stopping the building of Big W on Taylor Oval, was not a decision of the Moree Murri Taskforce, it was a legal decision,” he said.

Process manager on behalf of the Moree Plains Shire Council, Angus Witherby, said the case against the council and the Department of Planning was solved by consent orders, however, the matter against the Department of Lands had not been finalised.