December 2025 Oberon Council Meeting

December 18, 2025
Updated February 19, 2026

The images below show the major decisions made at the meeting.

Here is a full report by Councillor Lauren Trembath.

The meeting was opened in prayer at 5:30pm by David Walker. Mayor Andrew McKibbin presented an award to Councillor Clive McCarthy in recognition of his 30 years of continuous service to the Oberon Local Government in his role as a Councillor. He praised Councillor McCarthy's unwavering dedication to the community, noting that his recent re-election reflects the trust and respect he has earned over decades of service.

Questions from the Public
Local resident Irene Bishop raised concerns about the grass on the Edith Road embankment, which she believes poses traffic and fire hazards due to its height (over 1.5m). She also advised that a local stonemason would be providing a quote direct to Council to build a rock wall at an estimate of a $250,000 and asked when the work could be undertaken. Her questions were taken on Notice.

Mrs Helen Jones of O'Connell thanked the planning staff for their assistance and guidance with the DA for a boundary adjustment on her property at 118 Bosworth Falls Road.

9.1 Mayoral Minute
The mayor informed Council of an upcoming meeting he planned to have with The Pines on Thursday 18 December 2025. He will attend the meeting in the capacity of a private citizen representing local landowners in Bathurst who requested his legal opinion regarding the Near Neighbour Agreements. He sought Council's approval to undertake this meeting and support was given.

10.1 Notice of Motion – Biosolids Transparency and PFAS Risk Management in the Oberon LGA
Councillor Hayden's Notice of Motion (NOM) was not successful as the EPA is the regulating authority in relation to this activity and outside the legislative remit of Council.

As background to assist Councillors, the GM advised that the EPA is currently in the process of updating the resource recovery order and exemption for the reuse of biosolids to ensure that land application is beneficial and poses minimal risk of harm to human health and the environment.

The EPA are currently looking at the introduction of new contaminant limits, testing, record keeping and reporting requirements for biosolids to align with contemporary science on new contaminants and adopt the latest national guidance on PFAS. A new definition for biosolids is proposed to provide clarity as well as flexibility to allow future thermal treatment options.

In September 2025 the EPA sought feedback from all members of the community, from biosolids producers, sewage treatment plant operators, water utilities, composters, analytical laboratories, biosolids spreaders, government, peak bodies, consultants, farmers and the general community. New contaminant limits for testing, record keeping and reporting requirements, proposed management measures and the new definition of biosolids are all being considered as part of this approach.

10.2 - Code of Meeting Practice, as exhibited, was adopted with retention of the prayer and start time of 5:30pm. Councillors who do not wish to pray are able to leave the chamber whilst the Prayer is made without a formal request to the mayor.

A letter to Council from Anglican Minister Mr Jonny Lush, expressed community sentiment very eloquently.

The opening prayer is not about imposing belief but about acknowledging the deep spiritual heritage that has shaped our community and inviting reflection, humility and wisdom as decisions are made for the common good of our town, the surrounding area, and all those who call it home. As well as seeking the continued blessing of our God, it serves as a brief moment to pause, to recognise the weight of public responsibility, and to seek integrity and fairness in all that follows.

Far from being divisive, this simple act reminds us that our service is about more than process or policy - it is about people.

A new requirement for a public forum prior to each Council meeting will replace 'Questions from the Public'. Public Forums will be at 5:00pm prior to the Council meeting and requires application in writing by 4:00pm the day before and must identify the topic on the Council agenda that the person wishes to speak to.

Councillor and Delegate Reports

There were reports from Central NSW JO Meeting, Country Mayors Association and the Local Government NSW Annual Conference. Oberon Council introduced two resolutions to the conference as follows:

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.

The Arts Outwest report was received and Councillors acknowledged Mrs Fran Charge for her work as our representative and keeping the community updated and thanked her for her continued representation.

The Oberon Sports Committee report was received and noted the enthusiasm by all sporting groups for a Pump Track to be investigated.

Reports for Decision

13.7 The Oberon Showground Land Manager's MOU was endorsed

Public Exhibition
The following will be put on exhibition for public comment from the end of December through until early February:

13.1 Policy 3113 – Street Furniture
13.2 Awnings over the Public Domain in Oberon Street, Oberon
13.8 Complaints Handling Policy 2101 and Positive Working Relationships 2123

Development and Planning

13.3 DA2025.82 The boundary adjustment at 354 Bosworth Falls Road was approved.
13.4 DA2025.088 The colourbond fence at 36 Jenolan Street was approved.
13.9 DA2025.075 for a three-lot subdivision at 2519 O'Connell Road, O'Connell Road was refused as the proposed subdivision does not comply with clause 4.2 as an existing dwelling is proposed to be located on a lot that will be less than the minimum lot size for the land. As the proposed subdivision results in more than 2 lots that are less than the minimum lot size, and all the proposed lots are less than 90% of the minimum lot size, the development standard cannot be varied under clause 4.6 of the LEP.

Heritage

13.5 Avenue of Trees Planning Proposal PP-2025-140 Council resolved to forward the Planning Proposal, without amendment, to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. As the local plan-making authority, the Department will finalise and draft changes to the Oberon LEP 2013 to include the Avenue of Trees in Schedule 5 – Environmental Heritage. This amendment seeks to formally recognise the Avenue of Trees along O'Connell Road, O'Connell—a culturally significant stand of Desert Ash trees planted to honour the service and sacrifice of local personnel in World War I and World War II.

In Confidential the following were considered:

16.1 Personal Matter Black Springs Recreation Ground
The Notice of Motion that the General Manager undertake the recommendations in the Mayoral Minute was lost.

16.2 Water Write Off – Assessment 1240129 The Motion that Council do not write off the legal fees and offer a payment plan instead was endorsed.

16.3 Australia Day 2026 The motion that Council notes the report and recommendations within was endorsed.

The meeting closed at 8:49pm.