Contents

1. CANDIDATE BROCHURE
   1. General Manager
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
   1. Acknowledgement of Country Message from the Mayor We are Moree Plains Our People Our Councillors Our Vision Position Description Contact Information
   2. 2 4 6 8 12 14 16 26
3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
   1. Moree Plains Shire Council acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional owners of the lands where we live, work as well as across the lands we travel. Moree Plains Shire Council recognises the different spelling and pronunciations used to represent the original inhabitants of the Moree Plains Shire. The word Gamilaroi will be used.
4. MESSAGE FROM
5. THE MAYOR
   1. video
      1. To the applicant,
      2. Thank you for your interest in the opportunity to come and be part of the future of the Moree Plains.
6. This is a region brimming with adventure and opportunity. That is why I – like others - made the personal choice to move from the big smoke to the region some 17 years ago. The big sky, the chance to be ensconced in nature every day, the honour in playing a part in feeding and clothing not just Australians but the world, and the ability to have real connections with salt of the earth people and the longest living culture on the earth.
7. This is a place where you can make a real and lasting difference (and have some fun, and develop meaningful connections along the way).
8. The opportunities that lie before us are huge. We are privileged to have massive NSW Government support including a $138.3m investment in the Moree Special Activation Precinct (SAP), a $105m new hospital and dedicated initiatives in improving community resilience and safety.
9. Our primary producers are amongst the best in the world, which is why we have the highest value of agricultural production in Australia. They know that innovation is key to long term sustainability, and that’s why projects like Australia’s first “GEGHA” Green Hydrogen facility are happening here on the Plains.
10. The SAP is set to diversify and value add to our industry, bringing new businesses and people to town. At the same time, our tourism industry is ramping up again with the reopening of the historic Moree hot artesian baths, joining six other artesian facilities in our shire.
11. The opportunities are here. What our community needs is a council which simply enables them. We are hungry for the next chapter for the Plains.
12. As General Manager for the Moree Plains, you will come into an organisation which is on a strong and even keel. Our finances are robust, and we’ve broken the back of the legacy projects. We need a General Manager who will energise our team, foster a real and demonstrated commitment to serving our community, see and support the opportunities, deliver high quality and lasting infrastructure, and maintain the financial rigour.
13. Our council is proud of our shire, and proud of our people. We want the very best for them and genuinely believe that Moree Plains Shire Council can lead our shire into growth, and its best era yet.
14. Come and be part of our story. We welcome your application.
15. WE ARE MOREE PLAINS
    1. OUR PLACE Moree Plains Shire is located 640km northwest of Sydney and 473km southwest of Brisbane in North West NSW, covering an area of 17,930 km2.
    2. Moree is our major town centre, abuzz with business opportunity, tourism and culture. Our community members are spread out across the Shire on agricultural holdings and in the border towns of Mungindi and Boggabilla, as well as the unique rural villages of Ashley, Biniguy, Boomi, Bullarah, Garah, Gurley, Pallamallawa, Terry Hie Hie, Toomelah, and Weemelah.
    3. We are the most productive agricultural Shire in Australia. Home to the renowned black soil plains and abundant water supply, we boast strong agricultural industries in cotton, grain, oilseeds, livestock and agTech.
    4. The Mehi, Gwydir, Barwon and Macintyre rivers flow through the Shire and the bore water of the Great Artesian Basin is a major tourist attraction and community asset.
    5. Moree Plains is a dynamic and progressive community, on the cusp of game-changing growth and opportunity with the construction of the Inland Rail and the NSW Government’s investment into the Moree Special Activation Precinct (SAP). The SAP is projected to switch the Shire’s population from declining to growing and is expected to attract an extra 4500 people to Moree Plains by 2041. It is our challenge to capitalise on this growth and investment.
    6. Founded upon Gamilaroi land, we have a rich Aboriginal heritage and are home to several discrete Aboriginal communities managed by the various Local Aboriginal Lands Councils (LALC). We are committed to preserving and celebrating our country, culture and lifestyle and helping create a strong and rewarding economy for all.
    7. “The agricultural prosperity and opportunities that offers. The lifestyle is second to none”
       1. “The agricultural prosperity and opportunities on offer - the lifestyle is second to none”
       2. “The people are great; jobs are plentiful and it’s a great place to build wealth”
16. Moree Plains Shire Council
17. New England North-West Councils
18. OUR PEOPLE1
    1. POPULATION
       1. 12,873 people 51% male 49% female
       2. Moree Plains
       3. NSW
          1. Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander
          2. 19.9%
          3. 4%
          4. Overseas Born
          5. 5.6%
          6. 28%
    2. AGE
       1. Moree Plains
       2. NSW
          1. Average Age
          2. Youth Aged 0-14
          3. 21.4%
          4. 17.9%
          5. Aged 65+
          6. 16.7%
          7. 17.5%
    3. EDUCATION
       1. Moree Plains
       2. NSW
          1. Completed Year 12
          2. 35%
          3. 58.9%
          4. Vocational Qualification
          5. 24.2%
          6. 27.4%
          7. University Education
          8. 10.3%
          9. 25.8%
19. “The people of Moree Plains are the backbone of our Shire. There is always help available if needed. The community is amazing in the support it gives to numerous organisations and charities etc”
20. ECONOMY
    1. GDP $995m2 Key industries: agriculture, health, education, retail 5,408 labour force 2nd decile SEIFA Index3
    2. Moree Plains
    3. NSW
       1. Unemployment Rate
       2. 3.9%
       3. 4.9%
       4. Workforce Participation Rate
       5. 53.4%
       6. 58.7%
       7. Median Weekly Household Income
       8. $981
       9. $1,096
21. HOUSING4
22. 2.5
    1. average household size
23. 67.5%
    1. family households
24. 29.3%
    1. single households
25. 3.1%
    1. group households
26. $210
    1. median weekly rent
27. $1,300
    1. median monthly mortgage repayment
28. 6,286
    1. rateable properties
29. 1 Australian Bureau of Statistics: 2023 Census data 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics: 2021 Census data 3 2nd decile most disadvantaged group of LGAs in NSW, 10th decile most advantaged: 2021 Census data 4 Australian Bureau of Statistics: 2021 Census data
30. OUR
31. COUNCILLORS
32. Mayor Cr Susannah Pearse
33. Cr Dominique Hodgkinson
34. Cr Fred McGrady
35. Deputy Mayor Cr Wayne Tighe
36. Cr Kelly James
37. Cr Brooke Sauer
38. Cr Kerry Cassells
39. Cr Peter Mailler
40. Cr Debra Williams
41. OUR VISION
    1. We are welcoming, inclusive and proud of our culture and environment. We are a sustainable community with a thriving economy full of opportunity.
    2. C1 - Our Shire, the place to live and visit
    3. C2 - Our community is safe, healthy and thriving
    4. C3 - Our community welcomes, respects and includes everyone
    5. VIBRANT AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY
       1. E1 - Our Shire has a strong, sustainable and diverse economy that capitalises our natural assets
       2. E2 - Our Shire is connected with transport networks and technology
       3. E3 - Our Shire has a growing population and a skilled workforce
    6. DIVERSIFIED, GROWING REGIONAL ECONOMY
42. ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE SHIRE
43. LEADERSHIP WITH INTEGRITY
44. POSITION DESCRIPTION
    1. General Manager
       1. POSITION PURPOSE The General Manager of the Moree Plains Shire Council holds ultimate responsibility for the management and direction of all Council operations. They serve as the primary point of contact between the Councillors and the organisation, providing strategic guidance that ensures the delivery of sustainable, high-quality community services. These services must be fit for purpose and recognised as offering the best value for the community. The General Manager also leads the senior management team in delivering high-quality, professional services to both internal and external customers. Effective community engagement and the promotion of Council policies and programs are crucial aspects of this role.
          1. General Manager
          2. Executive Assistant (to Mayor & GM)
          3. Director Corporate & Community
          4. Director Infrastructure
          5. Director Planning & Development
          6. Manager Legal & Governance
          7. Chief Financial Officer
          8. Governance Officer
45. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
46. Ensure the services prioritised by the Moree Plains Shire Council through the Community Strategic Plan and incorporated in the Delivery Plans are resourced and delivered to meet the service standards expected by the community;
47. Ensure that the Moree Plains Shire Council meets and complies with its statutory requirements in service delivery; and
48. Exceed or meet the customers’ expectations for the delivery of services provided under contract or Service Delivery Agreements.
49. People Leadership
50. Lead the senior management staff to deliver high quality services by:
51. Driving workplace cultural reform through leading by example, an energetic leadership style, instilment of pride in work, and centring of the public and value for ratepayer money in all operational activities;
52. Enshrining strategic objectives and commitments into individual KPIs, rewarding strong performance and responding to sub-standard performance promptly;
53. Promoting an understanding of and compliance with the Code of Conduct and other policies;
54. Providing clear direction and expectations and ensuring decision-making processes, roles and authorities are well defined;
55. Inspiring and motivating staff towards high achievement and productivity;
56. Providing regular feedback and monitoring of direct reports’ performance;
57. Ensuring the development and implementation of individual performance management systems against measurable results and outcomes across the whole organisation;
58. Creating a culture and external communications strategy which improves the reputation of the organisation and attracts and retain high performers;
59. Supports succession planning throughout the organisation and the growth and development of our team; and
60. Providing a safe, healthy workplace and equitable work practices.
61. Financial Stewardship
62. Demonstrate best practice financial management by:
63. Rigorous analysis and thorough financial planning, with recommendations to council which ensure its long term financial sustainability through the budgeting and decision-making processes;
64. Disciplined adherence to budgets, fostering an organisation-wide appreciation and commitment to value for money;
65. Ensuring long term resourcing and asset management plans are established and funding and assets are available to meet the strategic goals of Moree Plains Shire Council
66. Manage the use and deployment of the Moree Plains Shire Council (people, property and finances) to achieve the best value for the community of Moree Plains Shire;
67. Ensure the achievement of the allocated annual budget; and
68. Managing the Council’s assets and infrastructure to maximise their life and ensure they support growth and vitality.
69. KEY OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
70. Enshrining best practice project management into policies and procedures;
71. Reporting to the council and making recommendations as required;
72. Ensuring timely, transparent communications on project status;
73. Celebrating wins; and
74. Proactively seeking and obtaining grant funding to support infrastructure renewal and investment.
75. Performance Dashboard Analysis:
76. Go beyond "On Track" percentages to identify underlying issues causing project delays.
77. Implement strategies to address roadblocks and expedite project completion.
78. Financial Sustainability:
79. Address Funding Constraints by:
80. Ensuring council operates within its means, complying with budgets and identifying and pursing opportunities for consolidation or savings on a daily basis;
81. Ensuring fees and charges are set at levels which ensure financial sustainability of the relevant fund;
82. Diversifying revenue streams and exploring growth opportunities;
83. Ensure Long-Term Financial Planning by:
84. Taking an active, leading role in council’s financial management;
85. Maintaining and building upon budgeted surpluses;
86. Developing and implementing robust long-term financial plans;
87. Discerning daily decision making that demonstrates financial discipline and value for money;
88. Analysing past budget performance to inform future strategies.
89. Grant Acquisition:
90. Actively pursue grants to support asset renewal, economic and liveability outcomes;
91. Support innovative approaches to foster private augmentation of council funding
92. Organisational Productivity & Efficiency:
93. Optimise Council Operations:
94. Review ongoing initiatives related to service delivery, asset management, and risk management.
95. Streamline processes and enhance efficiency through service reviews and benchmarking.
96. Workforce Management:
97. Maintain and enhance employee benefits and a positive work environment.
98. Support and enhance the Aboriginal Employment Strategy.
99. Embrace technology and innovation to improve efficiency.
100. Regional Change & Leadership:
101. Manage Growth & Infrastructure Development:
102. Support the growth and development of the Moree Plains Shire through council initiatives, expedient planning and building processes, and identification of and plans to capitalise on opportunities;
103. SELECTION CRITERIA
     1. Experience in overseeing the delivery of legacy projects to a high standard and establishing best practice project management.
     2. Appreciation of and ability to lead best practice governance.
     3. Experience in a position of a similar size and scope to this role preferred, with an engaged and energised leadership style.
     4. Proven experience in engaging community and key stakeholder groups to deliver customer-focused outcomes and experience with Aboriginal communities.
     5. Desirable Criteria:
     6. Tertiary qualifications in business/management or related discipline.
     7. Willing and able to relocate to and/or reside in the Moree Plains Shire LGA.
     8. Pre-employment checks:
     9. Qualifications and bankruptcy check.
     10. Criminal history check
     11. Pre-employment medical which may include drug and alcohol testing.
104. CLOSING DATE
     1. 15th September, 2026
105. CONTACT INFORMATION
     1. Gareth Broadrick
     2. T: 02 9146 6660
        1. E: [email protected]