This week's Minute with Mayor McKibbin

April 10, 2025

April 10, 2025

Oberon's financial position and sustainability is of upmost importance to all Oberon's ratepayers and residents. On 25 March 2025 Councillors deliberated with staff over our future direction noting that grant opportunities moving forward are significantly reduced from previous years. Whilst grants have provided major infrastructure projects, which have benefitted Oberon in no small way, the operational and through life support costs of those infrastructure projects have to be met by either ratepayers or users. Council has to determine which facilities will need to partly or wholly be funded by user fees and/or commercial operation. Similarly, whilst the population of Oberon is broadly in support of recycling, and legislation requires that Councils implement a kerbside recycling strategy for towns, this will come at a cost to households. Council is spending considerable time considering options for its recycling and waste strategy and the most appropriate and cost effective way to meet its legislative commitments and community expectations.

Over the week of 31 March 2025 Oberon Staff, Councillors and Currajong Group have been meeting with community members in Oberon and its surrounding villages to determine the Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats that the communities foresee for the future. There were a diverse range of views expressed, and this will tailor Councils view moving forward on Strategic planning and land use in our town and villages. O'Connell has requested a follow up session on Tuesday 6 May at 7:00pm as the communication concerning the session was not notified to all potential attendees.

The Oberon Garden Club will be holding its Garden Spectacular over the weekend of 12 and 13th of April. There are 8 Gardens open to the public with tickets available on the Visit Oberon website and at the Visitor information Centre. The gardens are: Swatchfield, Beyond Avalon, St Clements Cottage, Foleys at Essington, 20 Blenheim Avenue Oberon, 121 Wilson drive, Caspers Cloud and Bellenden. The Autumn Colours will be on full display at each of these gardens and each garden provides its own unique experience.

Friday the 25th of April is ANZAC Day, a day to commemorate the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during World War I being the landing at Gallipoli in Türkiye, and the service and sacrifice of all Australians and New Zealanders who have served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. There will be a number of services held at Oberon and its Villages as follows:

Black Springs on 10 April at 9am
O'Connell at 5.50am - Dawn Service on 25th April at St Thomas Anglican Church.
Oberon 5.45am - Dawn Service at the War Memorial. The march is to commence at 10.30am at the Council chambers and proceed to the War Memorial followed by a lunch at the RSL Club.
Burraga will hold an ANZAC ceremony on the 27th of April at 10am

The Oberon Common will be a hive of activity on Saturday 26th April as it hosts Picnic in the Park. There will be an array of stall holders with a range of delicacies to sample whilst reclining on the grass in the beautiful parkland that is Oberon's Common.

There will be Mushroom foraging workshops although April for beginners and intermediate foragers. A Masterclass will be held on Sunday 27 April with Alison Pouliot.

Oberon is delighted that the 2025 World Angus Forum will visit Oberon on 30 April with 200 international visitors to be hosted by Sunnypoint Pastoral Co. This will showcase our local beef industry to the World and provide prominence to the importance of agriculture to our local economy.

Clr Andrew McKibbin

Mayor

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