Moree Civic Precinct will finally be able to get a much-needed revamp after Moree Plains Shire Council received more than $1 million in state government funding for the redevelopment project.
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Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall was in Moree on Monday to announce the $1,052,182 from the NSW government’s Regional Cultural Fund for the Moree Civic Precinct redevelopment.
The funding will match Moree Plains Shire Council’s contribution of approximately $1.3 million, making the total project cost roughly $2.5 million.
Mr Marshall said the upgrade would install modern heating and cooling systems, resolve electrical issues, upgrade the lobby and breezeways, improve the lighting and stage infrastructure to meet modern theatrical requirements and audience expectations, allow for cosmetic improvements, provide for acoustic upgrades as well as install a lift within the Moree Community Library that will allow people in wheelchairs to access the Precinct.
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“The Memorial Hall is an iconic building in Moree that was first established in 1923,” he said.
“It has stood the test of time and has been Moree’s cultural hub for 95 years – this funding will revamp the building and ensure it continues to play a pivotal role in Moree for another 95 years.
“This refurbishment in total will make this facility a modern, first-class community hall which is able to host a number of conferences, but also just be a more comfortable, attractive, community facility for dozens of community organisations to hold their presentations, their awards.
“I’m thrilled to announce this money today to partner with council to upgrade what is a real gem of a building here in Moree.”
The project has been more than five years in the making, with council recognising the need to inject some TLC into the old building to ensure it can continue to be one of the community’s flagship cultural venues well into the future.
Mayor Katrina Humphries said the state government funding contribution is wonderful news, and means council can finally refurbish and modernise the “tired” old building.
“We’re very, very passionate about our memorial hall; it was built in memory of the first world war and the brave young men and women who went to fight so we could have a good way of life, but it’s tired,” she said.
“The acoustics are poor, the disabled access is poor, so it’s needing some serious funding.
“We’ve been for five or six years looking at how we’re going to fund a revamp, so it’s been on our books for a long while and it’s good that it’s come to fruition.
“We’re very happy, we can get on with it now.”
Councillor Humphries said once the works are complete, the civic precinct – which incorporates Moree Memorial Hall, Banquet Hall and Moree Community Library – will be able to satisfy the more modern requirements of theatrical and dance groups, visiting stage shows, training and educational expos and conferences, as well as general community use.
“I think it’ll be huge,” she said.
“It’s going to be a really good conference centre with a capacity, I think it’s licensed to seat about 380. So there’s a lot of conferences we’ll be able to hold, and that forms a great package of coming to Moree.
“Come to Moree and go to the pool, have a lovely soak and shop in our beautiful shops. It’s a good thing for the town. Tourism in Moree is very, very important. Our agricultural industry is our main industry and it’s what we’ve been built on but tourism’s the next one and tourism must be supported and looked at, but we’ve got to have the facilities to work with, so it’s very exciting all round.”
Cr Humphries said the works are expected to start as soon as possible – once the tender process is complete.
She then expects it will take approximately 18 months to complete.
