Local news for local people
This week's Minute with Mayor McKibbin
May 7, 2026
Oberon
Council has, after repeated requests, received confirmation from the
Pines Windfarm proponents, Stromlo & Tag Energy, that the 250
windfarm towers and associated infrastructure will operate under a
Permit issued under Section 60 of the Forestry Act. Under Section
555 of the Local Government Act Crown Land is exempt from rates
except where that land is held under a lease for private purposes.
Forestry corporation as a State Government owned corporation manages (not leases) the crown land on which radiata Pine Forests in Oberon and other areas of the state are established. Hence Forestry corporation pays no Council rates within the Oberon Council area even though it operates a commercial forestry operation and competes with private pine plantations which do pay rates. National Parks, Crown Land and Forestry Corp land occupy 42% of the Oberon Council area; hence 42% of the land area of Oberon is not rateable and the remaining landowners subsidise these entities.
To add insult to injury, the State Government by granting windfarm operators on Crown Land the right to operate under a permit, not a lease, is allowing a second commercial operation to operate within the Radiata Pine forests that does not pay rates. If these windfarms were established on farmland, they would pay rates and business rates on those segmented areas occupied by windfarm infrastructure. If business rates were applied to the 250 windtowers, proposed by the Pines in Forestry Corporation managed forests in the Oberon Council area, then over 35 years ( the estimated life of the windtowers) it is calculated Oberon would have received between $14 million and $21 million in rate revenue at present valuations.
The result is that Oberon Council is deprived of rating revenue and Oberon ratepayers subsidise Forestry Corporation and the Pines Windfarm so they both have a commercial advantage in competing with similar or the same operations on private land.
This is a totally inequitable position for Oberon. Oberon has been campaigning for years to have Forestry Corporation pay rates and now the Council is dealt another blow to our revenue base with this disclosure. Is Oberon to continue to be treated with absolute disdain by successive State Governments?
On a more positive note, I am pleased to report that ANZAC services were extremely well attended. Attendance was across all generations and it is pleasing to see so many young people attending.
The Dawn Service at O'Connell at 6am was held in front of St Thomas Church and under the deodar trees overlooking the fog bound recreation ground. The O'Connell Public School had constructed banners with the names of those who had fought in WW1. There was a riderless horse symbolising those who have fallen in battle and being particularly poignant for the light horse brigade. With the playing of the National Anthem the kookaburras chimed in as usual to add to the authentic Australian environment for the service.
The Oberon march and Commemorative Service commenced with a march from the Council Chambers to the war memorial with serviceman and veterans marching. Commander Gray Connelley from the Royal Australian Navy Intelligence Unit gave the visiting dignitary address emphasising that all veterans needed to be commemorated across all conflicts including our aboriginal service persons, our Vietnam veterans and our women who had supported our serviceman in past battles but were now in active engagement .
On Sunday 26th April Black Springs rededicated its war memorial using a grant from the Commonwealth Veterans Affairs War Memorial Fund. Oberon Engineering was contracted to create metal sculptures depicting the riderless horseman, the bugler, the soldier with bowed head and soldier with dog together with six metal poppies. The final sculpture was a map of Australia with the Ode They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them” followed by “Lest we Forget” the traditional remembrance wording. The sculptures were installed by the local community group.
The Federal Member, Andrew Gee and State member, Paul Toole attended. Andrew Gee took the crowd back to 21 July 1969 and the landing on the moon of Apollo 11 astronauts. On the same day he acknowledged the acts of a dedicated Australian soldier saving his mates who had become trapped in a minefield in Vietnam with an officer already being killed. The dedicated Australian Soldier is now The President of the Oberon RSL Sub Branch, Bill Wilcox. Bill was deactivating mines having been dropped in by helicopter when a mine was detonated by another officer resulting in shrapnel throughout Bill's body which he lives with still, but he saved others by his unselfish acts.
Andrew McKibbin
Mayor
