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Since its $7 million redevelopment in 2012, the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre has provided a significant boost to the economy of the Moree Plains Shire in the North West Slopes region of NSW.

Visited by 300,000 people annually, 250,000 of whom travel from outside the local area to experience the therapeutic benefits offered by the Centre, the facility is particularly popular during the cooler months.

Part of the Great Artesian Drive of therapeutic hot artesian pools through the NSW/Queensland border areas, Moree's waters represent a historic tradition going back to ancient times.

The benefits of natural artesian mineral waters were discovered thousands of years ago and have been used for their curative powers since ancient times. Many European cities are steeped in spa culture and their residents use thermal spas for their therapeutic value.

With the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre (MAAC) offering these benefits, the town benefits from visitor spending, with the average cost per night to stay in Moree at around $130 to $140.

To further enhance the attractiveness of the facility, almost $450,000 is to be injected into the Centre to improve comfort for patrons all year round.

Wind blocking screens, covered walkways and roofed sections will be constructed to ensure rain, sun and wind could be controlled, utalised and blocked if needed.

MAAC Chief Executive Scott Hawkins said the ‘out-of-the-box’ infrastructure chosen for the project was able to be altered for seasonal comfort.

Hawkins explained “we have a small section where a lot of wind comes through so we’ve decided to put louvers there so we can either block the wind in cooler months or let a breeze come through during summer.

To fund the improvements, MAAC was successful in securing $199,696 under the NSW Government’s Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure (TDDI) Program while the extra $250,000 was co-funded by Moree Plains Shire Council’s Grant Application Reserve (GAR).

Wanting to extend the attraction’s peak season, MAAC Board Chair James von Drehnen recently told local media “if we can increase numbers and average the same every month it will inject about $2.4 million back into the Moree economy, so this doesn’t just benefit the MAAC.

“If we can one, attract new people and two, try to get people to stay an extra night because of the comfortable facility then we can boost Moree’s tourism.”

Along with louvres, roll-down, plastic, cafe-style wall panels will be installed around the hot pools to keep the areas warm while still allowing patrons to enjoy the view around them.

Moree Plains Shire Mayor Katrina Humphries said council hoped for the infrastructure since early days of the pool’s renovations, adding “we’ve always had a wish list and more shade, and wind protection was very much on that list.

“To make this our iconic tourist destination we have to make sure our visitors and local are comfortable.”

MAAC’s hot mineral waters, heated naturally at 41 degrees Celsius, were discovered by accident when a bore was sunk into the Great Artesian Basinin search of a reliable source of irrigation water at the end of the 19th century.

Originally known as the Moree Hot Mineral Baths, the facility has operated since 1895 - offering its therapeutic benefits to visitors. 

Images: Facilities at the Moree Artesian Aquatic Centre

20th February 2017 - CALL FOR INSURERS TO RECOGNISE HOT SPRINGS BATHING AS COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY

17th October 2016 - SPA VISION OPENS AUSTRALIAN OFFICE 

11th April 2016 - WELLNESS TOURISM ON THE RISE

28th January 2015 - FREEDOM RIDE RE-ENACTMENT TO MARK 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDIGENOUS RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

26th November 2013 - GLOBAL SPA STANDARD RELEASED

5th December 2012 - MOREE ARTESIAN AQUATIC CENTRE OPEN, BUT NOT YET FULLY OPERATIONAL

28th June 2010 - DEVELOPMENT ADVANCES AT MOREE HOT ARTESIAN POOL COMPLEX 

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