This week's Minute with Mayor McKibbin

December 4, 2025

Looking back over the week of 24 November 2025 this week may be judged as one of the most significant weeks in Oberon’s history.

Local Government Conference Penrith:

The General Manager and I attended the Local Government Conference at Penrith at the beginning of the week of 24 November 2025.

Oberon introduced two resolutions to the Conference. The first dealt with Councils with large non rateable land areas being significantly disadvantaged. The Oberon Council area has 43% of its total area occupied by entities such as Forestry Corporation and National Parks that do not pay rates. This significant deficiency in rate revenue is exacerbated in the case of Forestry Corporation in that the contractors hauling logs out of the softwood plantations cause an inordinate amount of damage to Council roads, regional roads and state roads. Forestry Corporation is a commercial entity, and its private competitors do pay rates; this is inequitable in itself. Council sought support and gained it from the Local Government organisation and its members that State Government entities pay rates and contribute to road maintenance and improvement. This resolution was supported by Lithgow and all other Councils.

The second resolution concerned the renewable projects and dealt with a number of issues including:

Councils that are being targeted to host renewables be provided with the same benefits by the NSW Government as these in Renewable Economic Zones (REZs).
The timeframe to review Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) which often include 9000 pages of material, be extended from 28 to 90 days.
Dilapidation reports, bank guarantees and traffic study reports be mandated to ensure roads are properly reconstructed in a timely manner to at least the standard that existed prior to Renewable project construction commencing.
Accommodation impacts on rental accommodation and housing availability and pricing be fully investigated as part of the initial investigation and if worker camps are to be constructed how the impost on Council to provide sewerage, potable water, non-potable and waste is to be addressed; noting that the impact on health services and Policing also needs to be addressed
The EIS needs to investigate and detail the effect that construction of renewables will have on local industry due to road closures, lack of availability of labour (including skilled labour) and housing availability.
The gravel and water requirements necessary for concrete, housing, roads and infrastructure needs to be addressed in the EIS including where water and gravel are to be sourced.
The necessity for Decommissioning standards to be legislated covering Concrete foundation removal, underground cables, transmission lines specifically installed for the project and associated infrastructure removal.
The necessity for bank Guarantees to be put in place, for full cost of decommissioning escalated yearly by the construction and materials index, from Commencement of construction until decommissioning to guarantee funds are available to decommission projects even if the operator goes into liquidation.
The resolution was co-sponsored by Bathurst, Lithgow and Blayney Councils and received overwhelming support.

Official Opening Oberon Multi-Purpose Sports Centre

Friday 28 November 2025 was a momentous day in Oberon’s history with the official opening of the new Oberon multipurpose Sports Complex with its two rugby league grounds, two netball courts, new 300 seat grandstand and a clubhouse with restaurant, bar, canteen and change room facilities. Earthworks and forming has been done for the hockey field and Council is continuing to seek grants for the new synthetic turf surface. The Federal Member The Honourable Andrew Gee, Local State Member The Honourable Paul Toole and John Borg all spoke at the ceremony where the ribbon was cut to celebrate the Official opening.

This has been a partnership between Borg, the State and Federal Governments and Oberon Council. This entailed a single source procurement and required exhaustive work by our General Manger to address the value for money and probity issues with various government departments to ensure this project could proceed and I am indebted to the General Manager for his considerable effort. A very successful partnership that has achieved amazing value for a small town of Oberon. Oberon is now in a position to have regional teams compete at Oberon at this new facility. After the successful season for the Oberon tigers Rugby League team, it is fitting that this new facility is available for the 2026 season. The Oberon Leagues club, subject to successful negotiation of the final agreements, will manage the restaurant and bar from late January/early February 2026.

O’Connell Recreation Ground Opening

The opening of the O’Connell recreation ground also occurred on Friday 28 November in the afternoon. The O’Connell community had been requesting a recreation ground for over 10 years. Council, after lengthy discussions between 2012 and 2017 with the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst, finally purchased the land on which the recreation ground is situated in 2017. Since then, Federal and State grants together with Council contributions have funded an Ironbark post and rail fence constructed on two sides of the area, earthworks and associated seeding/top dressing for a cricket field, a cricket pitch construction, a car park and an amenities block constructed with change rooms. The facility is already in constant use. The O’Connell cricket club has already played on the ground and won. The O’Connell school is using the ground for sport and recreation activities

Sewerage Treatment Plant Approval

At 5 pm on Friday 28 November the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, provided its Section 60 Approval, a major step in progressing the Oberon Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) construction project. This project commenced the planning phase in 2017, as the current plant is 65 yrs old and plagued by obsolescence issues. Increasing maintenance and repair costs and future regulatory noncompliance issues.

The new plant will safeguard the health of residents, protect our local environment and support the future growth of our community.

The total cost of the project is $18.6 million an made up as follows:

Construction: $17.1 million
Project management: $0.5 million
Contingency & insurance: $1 million

Funding sources are as follows:

NSW Restart Grant: $4.2 million
Council’s reserves: $6.4 million
Loans:
- $3 million (taken in 2021)
- $5 million (approved November 2025)

Unlike other towns new Sewerage Treatment Plants, Oberon has had to fund 77% of the cost of this plant including $8million of borrowings. Council is committed to managing councils’ finances prudently, noting the additional financial strictures the new STP will place on its finances. Council will also seek to minimise the potential impact on ratepayers through steady, responsible pricing and thoughtful planning. Councils’ decision to proceed, after significant modelling and analysis, was primarily based on the fact that delays in moving forward with this project would increase risks and costs.

Oberon Redfin Roundup

The Oberon Redfin Roundup was conducted over Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November. Unfortunately, the wind speed in excess of 36 km/h and rain on the Saturday caused havoc with boaters and kayakers determined to set sail to catch the winning number or size of fish. The SES had to rescue several participants. Most participants opted to fish from the banks of lake Oberon in gale force winds.

Sunday morning before 9am provided some calm before the wind for anglers to show some true form by hooking some redfin and trout. Overall, there were about 100 registered participants and despite the wind and rain the competition was enjoyed by all. The Fishing Shed Bathurst was the gold sponsor, supported by Kennards Hire, Spark Electrical, Oberon Council and NSW State Government Grant Gone Fishing. Coffee and Kebabs were heartily enjoyed by all.

Clr Andrew McKibbin

Oberon Mayor