Integrated Planning & Reporting 2025/26 Wrap Up

Published on 15 July 2025

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Your Voice, Our Action

Council would like to sincerely thank the community for their involvement and participation in the 2025/26 Integrated Planning & Reporting (IP&R) process.

Whether you completed the 2025 Community Survey, attended a Community Association Meeting, made a written submission, or engaged through Have Your Say Oberon, your feedback has made a difference.

What We Heard:

Community input clearly identified Waste services and communication as the highest priority. Community members expressed strong views about the removal of the Bulky Goods Collection and Free Tip Day, the introduction of green waste charges and broader issues of equity and access, particularly regarding the use of tip vouchers and the availability of services in rural areas. Roads, particularly the condition of unsealed roads, also emerged as a key area requiring increased focus and transparency. 

What’s Been Actioned:

In response to this feedback, Council have made several key decisions:

Increased funding for roads: The 2025/26 Budget has been adjusted to significantly boost investment in road maintenance and renewal of existing infrastructure, with a particular focus on local and unsealed roads. Council’s adopted budget reflects these priorities. These investments include

  • $1.5 million – Regional Roads
    • This will support capital upgrades, pavement repairs, and ongoing maintenance on key routes such as Abercrombie Road, helping to improve safety and connectivity across the region.
  • $4.3 million – Local Sealed Roads
    • This includes resealing, patching, shoulder repairs and capital renewal of aging road surfaces in both town and rural areas.
  • $1.6 million – Local Unsealed Roads
    • Over $1 million has been allocated specifically for maintenance works, directly reflecting community feedback. Planned works include gravel resheeting, grading, and drainage improvements to ensure safer, more reliable access year-round.

Waste Services: The Waste Working Party, established to guide Council’s waste strategy, will continue to consider the concerns as part of its ongoing advisory role. While the Working Party has recommended the current service changes to support long-term financial sustainability and compliance, it will continue to monitor impacts, collect operational data, and consider community sentiment in future deliberations. Any decision to remove or reinstate items such as Bulky Goods and Free Tip Day remain a decision for Council.

Council have committed to providing more regular and transparent updates on waste management, including service updates and the publication of minutes from the Waste Working Party meetings. In addition, Council will undertake community education and engagement to support the NSW Net Zero Waste 2030 goal and prepare for future waste strategy changes.

A summary of how community feedback influenced these decisions and responses to individual submissions were provided in the 30 June 2025 Extraordinary Council Meeting business papers and can also be found on the 2025/2026 Integrated Planning & Reporting | Have Your Say Oberon project page.

Although the 2025/26 IPR process has now concluded, Council intends on keeping the community informed through:

  • Regular updates via Council’s website and social media channels
  • Council meeting minutes and reports
  • Articles in The Village Voice.

Thank you again for your time, insights and contributions. Your input ensures Council decisions are reflective of the priorities and aspirations of the Oberon community.  

 

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