June 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting Recap - Councillor Trembath

The meeting opened in prayer at 5:30pm by Robert Saltmiras of Life Church Oberon and was followed by a presentation by Sean Haylan, General Manager of Destination Central West. Sean provided an update on the establishment of Destination Central West and how the focus on our central west region has provided significant benefit to the visitor economy of Oberon.

Mr Adam Mercer, local resident, addressed Council regarding the hazards of kangaroos and other wildlife on the verges of Mutton Falls Road and highlighted the requirements of the Roadside Vegetation Management Plan 2019 which he did not believe was being met. Mr Sig Sovik addressed Council on the current renewable project by TAG/Stromlo, the Pines Wind Farm Project, and refuted their assertion at a recent meeting with Council that the project was fully privately funded. He outlined the government money funding VPAs, transmission lines and other infrastructure for the project. Mr Sovik requested Councillors submit another Notice of Motion formally rejecting the Pines project as a direct action on behalf of the community and not allow for the destruction of our LGA.

The Recission Motion supported by seven pages of legal advice was held over to allow the General Manager to seek legal advice to provide procedural fairness.

The motion by Councillor Tucker was amended to ensure Council were not hindered in their day-to-day operations with regards to the road network. All recommendations of the Traffic Advisory Committee are referred to Council for decision.

The Motion was amended as follows:-

1. That the following specific exclusion be added to the Instrument of Delegations and Sub Delegations to the General Manager as resolved by Council on 15 October 2024 -

"Any powers delegated to Council under the TfNSW document "Delegation to Councils - Regulation of Traffic including the operation of ‘Traffic Committees’ where these delegations are under Part 4 of the Roads Act and relate to Traffic Committees"

 

The concreting under the shelters and movement of the water tank was not successful. The tank removal, as pointed out by Clr Trembath, had been raised in a previous unsuccessful motion by Clr McCarthy and the priority for the community was goal posts and marking of the athletics track that the community has already raised money for.

Reports for Decision

 

The report was hotly debated with most Councillors (6-3) deciding to forego an increase based on the current IP&R Operational Budget 2025-26 with increases in rates and fees. The 2025-26 Operational Plan has a net operating deficit after capital expenditure of $194,805 and consensus was not taking the increase would be in line with community expectations.

 

13.2 ARIC Member Fees 2025-26 were not increased in line with Councillors foregoing an increase in Mayoral and Councillor Fees 2025-26.

 

13.3 Policy 2214 – Financial Reserves Policy was adopted as presented.

 

Council endorsed the recommendation to place the Draft Oberon Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) 2025 and Review of Submission Report on public exhibition for a minimum period of 28 days.

 

Three (3x) Wind Monitoring Stations was withdrawn as there was no discussion with the earlier 10.1 Recission Motion being held over.

 

Council was asked to note and support the intention for Council and OBTA to continue their relationship through the development of a revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Council will receive a further report for consideration outlining a revised Memorandum of Understanding with OBTA at the next available meeting.

Oberon Council and OBTA entered into a MOU in November 2022, with the current agreement extending through to June 2025. The MOU outlines the intent for both parties to work together collaboratively on regional economic development, tourism promotion and business engagement activities. The MOU is not legally binding but provides a framework to guide communication, cooperation and shared priorities between the two organisations

As part of the current State Significant Development Application lodged by GPG, Council has been approached by GPG to provide landowners consent for works to be carried out on O’Connell Road should development consent be recommended by the State for the Paling Yards project. The GPG request is to upgrade the S-curve in O’Connell Road (Mountain Range).

The recommendation was for Council to defer any consideration of approval and seek a meeting with GPG to understand where the application is up to and allow Councillors to ask questions of the proponent given the substantial time taken to get the application to its current state was amended by Clr Trembath.

Clr Trembath’s amendment was to defer any consideration of approval and seek a meeting with GPG, the meeting be recorded and live streamed to the community and for the GM to investigate, through the Office of Local Government, the legal implications if approval is refused. The request with all required information will be considered at the next available meeting.

With amendments, in response to a submission, was adopted as presented and will be placed on the Council’s website.

The exhibition period attracted one submission which provided constructive feedback seeking a definition of what the Risk Register is and the accountabilities, roles and responsibilities for risk identification, control and assessment.

 

Council endorsed the recommendation to vary Part C6.4 – “Carports and Garages” – Part C5.5 “Building Height Plane”.

In Confidential the following reports were considered:-

 

Council endorsed the recommendation to receive the report as information

 

Council endorsed the recommendation to not write-off water consumption for Assessment 1239514 and instead offer a payment plan arrangement to support full debt recovery.

 

Council endorsed the recommendation :

2. Advise the Central NSW Joint Organisation of its decision.

Council endorsed the recommendation that Council note the confidential report on Council electricity procurement.

The Meeting closed at 9:20pm.

Next meeting to be held Tuesday 15 July 2025 @ 5:30pm.

All meetings are also available via zoom and recorded and available on the Council website.