| Moree Plains Shire New South Wales |
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Location in New South Wales |
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| Population: | 14,406(2009)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Area: | 17928 km² (6,922.0 sq mi) | ||||||||||||
| Mayor: | Katrina Humphries | ||||||||||||
| Council Seat: | Moree (21 Auburn Street)[2] | ||||||||||||
| Region: | North West Slopes | ||||||||||||
| State District: | Barwon | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division: | Parkes | ||||||||||||
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The Shire of Moree Plains, located on the New South Wales side of the border with Queensland, is one of the largest Local Government areas in the State.
Also known as the Spa Capital of Australia, the township of Moree is a regional centre with daily air and rail links to Sydney. Moree is situated at the crossroads of the Newell and Gwydir Highways, both major inland transport corridors for Eastern Australia.
The Moree Hot Artesian Pool Complex, first established in 1896, attracts visitors from around Australia and overseas to "take the waters", an activity particularly popular with immigrants from eastern and southern Europe and eastern Asia. Moree itself sits at the south-eastern extremity of the Great Artesian Basin, a vast underground water resource covering much of eastern and central Australia.
The Shire has a relatively high Indigenous Australian population (seventeen per cent), and in recent years has achieved recognition for its Aboriginal Employment Strategy, targeting indigenous employment in the mainstream workforce through a process of mentoring and counselling of both employer and employee.
The town of Mungindi (2001 population: 645), which straddles the New South Wales/Queensland border, is custodian of the world's largest survey peg, the One Ton Post, which marks the start of the colonial border survey of 1881 from Mungindi to Cameron's Corner at South Australia. The Shire also includes the towns and villages of: Ashley, Boomi, Boggabilla (2001 population: 667), Garah, Pallamallawa (307), Gurley and Weemelah.
Moree Plains Shire is the most productive agricultural Local Government area in Australia, averaging around A$1Billion per year in agricultural primary production.
Current produce includes wheat, barley, sorghum, pulses, cotton, maize, beef, sheep, wool, olives, pecans, and canola.
According to the Australian Bureau Statistics [3], there:
- were 15,991 people as at 30 June 2006, the 81st largest Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to 0.2% of the New South Wales population of 6,827,694
- was an increase of 34 people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 110th largest population growth in a Local Government Area in New South Wales. It was equal to less than 0.1% of the 58,753 increase in the population of New South Wales
- was, in percentage terms, an increase of 0.2% in the number of people over the year to 30 June 2006, the 120th fastest growth in population of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 0.9%
- was an increase in population over the 10 years to 30 June 2001 of 627 people or 4.1% (0.4% in annual average terms), the 76th highest rate of a Local Government Area in New South Wales. In New South Wales the population grew by 622,966 or 10% (1.0% in annual average terms) over the same period.
According to the research report "Social and Economic Analysis of the Moree Community" released by Cotton Catchment Communities CRC [4] which contradicts the above assertion 04:47, 22 August 2011 (UTC):
- Population and employment in Moree Plains has steadily declined over the last two decades. Between 2001 and 2006 Moree Plains saw the greatest net migration change amongst the study areas with 1741 people moving out of the area.
- There was a corresponding decline in employment.
- In 2005-06 the Moree Plains economy was estimated to have a Gross Regional Product of $605m.
- The unstable economy is not conducive to investment and development, including the provision of services.
According to the Australian Bureau Statistics [5] during 2003-04, there:
- were 4,767 wage and salary earners (ranked 83rd in New South Wales and 263rd in Australia, 0.2% of New South Wales's 2,558,415 and less than 0.1% of Australia's 7,831,856)
- was a total income of $161,074,853 (around $161 million) (ranked 85th in New South Wales and 268th in Australia, 0.2% of New South Wales's $107,179,688,262 (around $107 billion) and less than 0.1% of Australia's $304,034,755,876 (around $304 billion))
- was an estimated average income per wage and salary earner of $33,790 (ranked 86th in New South Wales and 288th in Australia, 82% of New South Wales's $41,407 and 87% of Australia's $38,820)
- was an estimated median income per wage and salary earner of $32,010 (ranked 77th in New South Wales and 257th in Australia, 90% of New South Wales's $35,479 and 94% of Australia's $34,149).