This week's Minute with Mayor McKibbin

June 18, 2026

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development sponsored a business breakfast at the Milbrey Café in Oberon on Wednesday 3 June. Vicki Seacombe from Business NSW provided an overview of how Business NSW can assist businesses.

Stephen Giuhot from Regional Economic Development indicated courses and services that could be accessed by businesses. David Norris from Industry Capability Network (I.C.N) indicated how ICN could connect businesses to suppliers with their networking database and assist companies tendering for business.

The meeting noted the new Western Sydney Airport was scheduled to open for freight from July 2026. However, businesses were not aware of which freight forwarding companies or specialist freight refrigeration companies had established at the airport to cater for exporters needs. All speakers confirmed this was an outstanding issue.

Phil Donato, the NSW State Member for Orange, held a Men's Health Awareness Day on Saturday 6 June at the Orange Ex Services Club to bring greater awareness to men's physical and mental health. The event was titled GETTIN' - A - GRIP, and the Master of Ceremonies was Barry Dubois. There were a series of arm-wrestles between politicians, real estate agents, former prominent sportsmen, local celebrities and Mayors. Between each segment of arm wrestles there were five-minute presentations by medical practitioners, The Minister for Tourism Steve Kamper (arm wrester as well) and organisations including Lifeline and The Cancer Council. A great initiative by Phil Donato to encourage men to consider their physical and psychological health not only for themselves but their families and others who rely on them.

The State Government Legislative Assembly Select Committee into the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) Funding Reform has issued an Options Paper proposing five alternate options for funding the ESL. The ESL funds Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW State Emergency Service. Currently the ESL is a levy on Insurance policies. Properties that are not insured avoid the levy and the reform paper seeks to remedy this anomaly. However, the new proposed funding options are all levied on Land Value as assessed by the Valuer General. Land Value is the unimproved value of land with some exceptions. Arguably the Unimproved Land is not what the levy should apply to it should apply to the assets on that land to which the Emergency Services have to respond to. Take the situation of a large property with minimal assets such as buildings and plant in the same locality as a small property with a large number of buildings and assets. The large property is paying a far higher ESL due to the Land Value. A plant or Equipment operator that previously paid the levy on the insured value of those assets will avoid the ESL. In the event of a fire or other emergency the plant and equipment may have to be saved or an operator rescued.

Residents, businesses and farmers are actively encouraged to make a submission by 19 June 2026 to the Legislative Assembly Committee. Search Legislative Assembly Select Committee on Emergency Services Funding Reform in your internet browser.

I attended the Oberon Business and Tourism Association (OBTA) meeting on the evening of 3 June 2026. The closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass and the expected duration of the closure was, as expected, of significant concern to businesses. OBTA and businesses generally have been asked by Oberon Council to submit ideas to Council on how the $15,000 received from the NSW Government should be spent to promote businesses in Oberon and surrounds generally and to maximise that benefit with the Great Western Highway closure.

Council are inviting local businesses to have their say on how this funding should be used to support community events and tourism. The survey is live on the Have Your Say Oberon website, and I encourage all businesses to provide their input. Survey closes 30 June 2026. Complete the survey here: Business Community Survey: Events & Tourism Activation Funding | Have Your Say Oberon

Oberon Health Council is launching its Healthcare Grab Bag initiative outside of the Oberon Council building on Friday 19 June at 10:00am. The Healthcare Grab Bag initiative was developed by the Oberon Health Committee as a practical, community-focused project to improve emergency preparedness to ensure that during an emergency or unplanned hospital transfer, essential health information is stored in one place, easy to locate, and ready to travel with the patient. This reduces stress for individuals and families and assists emergency workers in making timely, informed decisions. This is a great initiative for the older members of our community.

Andrew McKibbin
Mayor