September 2025 Oberon Council Meeting

October 2, 2025
Updated October 23, 2025

Written by Councillor Lauren Trembath.

The meeting was opened in prayer at 5:30pm by Rev Jonny Lush from the Oberon Anglican Church. There were no presentations.

Local community member, Robyn Wiseman, presented a petition that she had put out to the community regarding the use of CCTV facial recognition surveillance cameras in public spaces. The petition captured 256 signatures not supporting CCTV Surveillance cameras if they were to be introduced. Local Ms Melissa Jones spoke on CCTV cameras and expressed her concerns about storage and security of the data collected and the potential for identity theft.

There were four motions.

10.1 Recording of Meetings:
Councillor Hayden put forward a motion that the General Manger implement immediately Council Committee, Steering Committee and Working Party meetings be recorded (including closed items) and that recordings and minutes be made available to all Councillors. Councillors resolved to defer and include with the review and implementation of the new Code of Meeting Practice that is required to be in place by December 2025, as there are provisions relating to recording of meetings.

10.2 Councillor and Mayoral Fees and Associated Expenditure:
Councillor O'Connor's Motion for more detail on Councillor expenses over and above the Office of Local Government audit requirements was not supported by Council. The Annual Report as well as a recently adopted Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities to Councillors Policy, enacted from 1 July 2025 outlines and provides a six-monthly reporting requirement for itemised individual Councillor expenditure.

10.3 Water Leaks at Oberon Fire Control:
Councillor McCarthy's motion that Council seek suitable trades to look at water leaks at the Oberon Fire Control Centre and, if within budget, get repairs done was supported. The General Manager included a note he had met with representatives of RFS to assess the extent of water damage (a minor area in the works area and some water damage around an openable window) and repairs will be undertaken by local contractors to keep the building in good condition.

10.4 Repairs to Disabled Access:
Councillor McCarthy's motion that Council repair the disabled access site east of the Pedestrian Crossing in Oberon Street was passed unanimously. The General Manager included a note that a number of factors contributing to how the access was originally constructed will require removal and complete renewal of the ramp. Funding for this work will be from the TI Legacy fund, and the work would be in conjunction with the construction of a layback outside the chemist.

Reports for Decision

13.1 Returns Disclosing Interests:
Council endorsed the recommendation to note the Disclosures by Councillors and Designated Persons Returns are a requirement, and were provided by all nine (9) Councillors and the following staff members:

General Manager, Gary Wallace
Technical Services Director, Dr Cornelia Wiebels
Planning and Development Director, Damian O'Shannassy
Corporate Services Director, Mathew Webb
Works Engineer, Geoff Paton
Project Engineer, Daksh Bishnoi
Senior Town Planner, Bennett Kennedy
Building Surveyor, Barry Byrom
Building Surveyor, Kirsty Hanrahan
Facility Manager, Sharon Inwood
Finance Manager, Zoe Marks
Management Accountant, Lisa Koleda
Human Resources Coordinator, Julie Baker
WHS/Risk Management Coordinator, Rebecca Burgess
Governance and Executive Manager, Sharon Swannell

13.2 Edith Road Faux Rock Embankment Stabilisation:
The embankment on Edith Road opposite The Common presents an ongoing maintenance issue due to its height and grade. Council has an allocation of $50,000 from the TI Legacy fund for street verge rock retaining walls. However, this allocation is insufficient to construct an 80m long by 1.5m-4.0m high retaining wall and was seeking approval for the re-allocation of the full Richards Park Drainage Project budget, $80000, to enable the completion of a faux rock retaining wall on Edith Road.

Councillor Tucker put forward an alternate motion to retain the monies in the TI Legacy and complete the projects as determined by a Council resolution in June 2024 and this was supported.

13.3 Proposed Taxi Stand at Ross Street:
Council endorsed a 3-month trial of the taxi stand in Fleming Street.

13.4 Transport for NSW 2025 Authorisation and Delegation Instrument for Councils:
Effective 1 August 2025 changes came into effect regarding Delegation to Councils in relation to regulation of traffic, including Local Traffic Committees. Council endorsed the recommendation as follows:

Note and endorse the Transport for NSW 2025 Authorisation and Delegation Instrument for Councils on Prescribed Traffic Control Devices and Regulation of Traffic.
Rescind Resolution 5 - 17/06/2025 as it is no longer is applicable or valid due to the recent regulatory changes.
Indicate that any decision on mandatory matters referred to the Local Transport Forum is referred to the elected Council for resolution.

13.5 DA2024.094 - 31 Endeavour Street Oberon - Woodchem - Alterations and additions to Formaldehyde Processing Plant:
Council had received a development application DA2024.094 for alterations and additions to an existing Formaldehyde Plant at 31 Endeavour Street, Oberon. The proposal was to install a new formaldehyde manufacturing plant adjacent to the existing plant, which will be retained in care and maintenance mode and will operate only during maintenance or emergency periods. Resin production capacity would be maintained at 85,000tpa.

Council endorsed the new Development Application DA2024.094 for alterations and additions to an existing Formaldehyde Plant at Lot 22 in DP 1017457, 31 Endeavour Street, Oberon in accordance with Section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, subject to conditions.

13.6 Oberon Business and Tourism Association MOU:
An updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Council and OBTA was presented for Council's endorsement. The MOU covers collaboration on economic development, tourism and joint initiatives for the period September 2025 to August 2028. Operational matters, including VisitOberon.com website management and content updates, has been deferred to a separate agreement.

Council endorsed the recommendation to approve the MOU and authorise the Mayor and General Manager to execute the MOU on behalf of Council.

Several matters classed as Confidential were then considered.

The meeting closed at 8:57 pm and the next meeting will be held Tuesday October 21st at 5:30pm.

You can see the agenda for the meeting here (426 pages)

See the recording of the meeting here (2:55:00)

The minutes of the meeting can be seen here