Liverpool Plains Shire Council
Background
Liverpool Plains Shire extends from the top of the Great Dividing Range to Currabubula and west across the plains to the villages of Premer and Mt. Parry. The former Quirindi Shire Council was dissolved and Liverpool Plains Shire Council was created in March 2004.
Quirindi is the hub of the Liverpool Plains Shire Council. It is located a short distance off the New England Highway, 354 km north of Sydney and 63 km south-west of Tamworth.
The surrounding area consists of undulating slopes and ranges and some of the richest black soils in Australia.
Other towns in the area include Werris Creek, Wallabadah and Willow Tree.
Liverpool Plains Shire is continuing to build upon its natural attractions including the Quirindi Main Street beautification, the establishment of the award winning First Fleet Memorial Gardens and more recently the Second Fleet Memorial Gardens at Wallabadah, Old Quipolly Dam Bird Hide and bird routes, Quirindi Rural Heritage Village, Willow Tree Tourist Information Centre, Who'd A Thought It Lookout, Bob's Shed, a tribute to Peter Brock, and the multi award winning Australian Railway Monument and Museum at Werris Creek. The Royal Theatre in Quirindi offers cinema, live theatre, and musical performances and is a large venue for conferences. Plans are in place to develop a cinematic projection and memorabilia collection at the cinema.
Quipolly Dam, near Werris Creek, is used for public recreation purposes with walking trails, picnic areas, fishing and non-motorised boating. The town is also close to Glenbawn, Keepit and Chaffey Dams which offer fishing, boating and water skiing pursuits.
Sustainability Initiatives and Achievements
The Council is committed to running its operations in a sustainable manner, and has for example, adopted a Water Strategy to drought proof the towns of Werris Creek (Quipolly Dam) and Quirindi (underground water). This involved increasing the height and capacity of the Quipolly Dam by 74%, constructing new pipelines to both towns, installing two new holding tanks and providing a new water treatment plant. This scheme provides flexibility by allowing both towns to access each other's water supply should the need arise.
Liverpool Plains Shire Council has worked as a regional leader in natural resource management projects, in particular through its promotion of Landcare and river restoration projects, and its work with the Namoi Catchment Authority. The need for this approach is driven by the rural nature of the shire, resulting in a close link between the natural environment, the local economy and the social well-being of the Shire population. The Regensis project provides an example of this commitment to sustainability in the Shire.
The Council also recognises the need to work closely and constructively with the mining industry, landholders and relevant Government bodies to ensure that all mining exploration is carried out with minimum disruption to farming practices or to the detriment of the land or the water tables beneath the land.
The Regensis Project
- Regenesis is a joint initiative of Sister Cities, Blacktown City Council and Liverpool Plains Shire Council.
- Funding of $2 million was provided by the NSW Environmental Trust to support the project.
- Under the project large areas of public and privately owned land are to be used for biodiveristy plantings and carbon storage.
- The revegetation projects are planted in accordance with accredited carbon trading requirements and the carbon sequestration rights on the planted land will receive carbon certificates that have a dollar value and are tradable.
- The Council has also been able to use part of the funding to develop a biodiversity strategy.