Local news for local people
This week's Minute with Mayor McKibbin
October 1, 2026
Published
September 24, 2026
On Tuesday morning 8 September I appeared before the Legislative Assembly Select Committee on Emergency Services Funding Reform for The Central West Joint organisation. Russell Fitzpatrick represented the Country Mayors Association in the same session. The Emergency Services Levy (ESL) is currently collected as a levy on insurance policies, but this is intended to change as many people do not take out insurance. One of the issues raised was that assessing this levy on Land Value as determined by the Valuer General risks placing rural and regional communities at a significant disadvantage and takes no account of the value of physical assets and their location that is likely to be protected by the Rural Fire Service and Emergency Services organisations. It was submitted that all landowners and residential unit owners should pay the levy but so should major Plant and equipment operators. Under all the options, heavy machinery operators would be exempt if not owning land which was seen as a flaw of the proposed reform. It was stated that Forestry Corp and National Parks should not be exempt, noting that fires often started and/or migrated to these forests. In Forestry Corporation's situation it was a commercial operation so should not be exempt from the levy or indeed Council rates. It was emphasised in the submissions that commercial, industrial and mining operations were crucial to regional communities and should not be subsidising residential and public entity bodies. Regional discounts should apply uniformly to regional areas for the same activities. The disparity in proposed ESL amounts between Queensland and NSW was illustrated especially for border communities and it was emphasised current proposed rate levels would encourage an exit of NSW businesses to QLD.
The Pines Windfarm presented to Oberon Council on the afternoon of 8 September. A transport route has still not been determined for bringing the turbines, blades and auxiliary equipment to the three Forestry Corp forests in the Oberon area. Council was informed this will be determined at the end of this year or in first quarter of 2027 prior to The Pines submitting the application to NSW Government, in quarter 2 of 2027, for the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARS). This is a requirement of a State Significant Development such as the Pines Windfarm. The SEARS will outline the specific environmental issues, community views, and technical studies (such as traffic, noise, or biodiversity assessments) that must be covered in the Pines Environmental Impact Statement.
On the evening of 10 September, the Burraga & District Community Assoc (BDCA) held its monthly meeting. BDCA resolved to proceed with the restoration of Burraga's stone war memorial with available NSW and Commonwealth grant funds, together with village funds sourced from Oberon Council. A stonemason, Mark Hine, has been commissioned by Oberon Council on BDCA's behalf to undertake the work.
Tuesday 15th September at 5.30 pm was the Oberon Council's monthly meeting. Katie Graham was re-elected Deputy Mayor, and I was re-elected Mayor. We thank our fellow Councillors for their confidence in us moving forward.
The Housing, Employment, lands and Open Space Strategy was adopted at the Council Meeting after being on exhibition twice as a result of the number and extent of community feedback. The strategy will lead to revisions of the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2013 and the Development Control Plan (DCP) 2001. A project review brief is to be prepared, and it is expected a consultant will be engaged at the October 2026 meeting. The review is anticipated to take 12 months.
On Saturday 12 September 2026, due to my family's long association with the village of Rockley, I was privileged to open the celebrations for the villages 175th anniversary. The village had previously celebrated the 125th (missing the 100th) and the 150th. There were at least 7 people who had been at the 125th in 1976. I was proud to stand on the steps of the Rockley Mill museum to open festivities as it was the old flour mill purchased by my mother, Janet McKibbin, and turned into a museum with support from the local community and successive Councils, most recently Bathurst Regional Council. Deputy Mayor (now Mayor) Ben Fry attended as did Paul Toole the local State Member. The Museum is now owned by Bathurst Regional Council and is operated by a dedicated group of volunteers. The 175th organising committee of Cynthia Webster, Janine Cross, Jasmin Hooper did a great job in martialling everyone for the event. Vicki Wilson OAM, President of Bathurst Chamber of Commerce, ran the event seamlessly as the Master of Ceremonies.
Andrew McKibbin
Mayor
