UPDATE FROM CLR TREMBATH 20 DECEMBER COUNCIL MEETING
Published on 23 December 2022
Tuesday 20 December was the last meeting of 2022 with all newly elected Councillors completing their first year in office. Thank you to the Council team for their guidance and support throughout the year.
Mayor Mark Kellam chaired the meeting and there was lively debate by all the Councillors throughout the meeting opened in prayer by Diane Coleman of CSC at 5:30pm and closed at 8:24pm.
It has been very pleasing to see members of the public present throughout the year post COVID taking a keen interest in the local issues and providing Councillors with community views. On Tuesday night we had presentations from Mrs Ruth Price regarding the pool voicing community concerns about the management, availability and opening hours and we also heard from Mr Lang from the Golf Club who spoke in favour of the proposed Mountain Bike Track at the Fish River Reserve and Mr Michael Kantares who spoke in opposition.
Key Outcomes
A Notice of Motion – Oberon Swimming Pool by Clr Hayden was supported by Council to delegate authority to the GM to seek legal consultation in relation to the contractual obligations regarding the management of the Oberon Swimming Pool and Fitness Centre entered into by Oberon Council and the YMCA
The motion was in relation to the numerous complaints received from the community members, the reliance by families to access learn to swim classes and the impact of the closures and the limited opening hours that the pool can be used.
The Development Application 10.2022.26.1 - Mountain Bike Track at Fish River Reserve was refused and an alternate motion put forward by Clr Trembath and won (7-2). The alternate motion was based on the Fish River Reserve being classified as a ‘Natural Area – Bushland’ and the use of sites with this classification to have a strong focus on low impact uses such as ornithology and walking. The alternate motion requested an investigation to identify more suitable potential sites around Oberon and a report be provided to Council along with a request for Council to seek an extension of time to spend the grant money.
A Transport for NSW (TfNSW) Proposal for a 40kph Oberon Street High Pedestrian Activity Area (HPAA) option study for the central business area of Oberon – North to Raleigh Streets - was considered. Council voted (8-1) to advise TfNSW that Oberon Council did not have any interest in participating in a study as there were no clear perceived benefits reducing the speed limit to 40kph.
The O’Connell Recreation Ground motion by Clr McCarthy was passed to officially name the ground ‘The O’Connell Recreation Ground’ and was supported by all Councillors.
The Employment Arrangements & Organisation structure of Council has been reviewed and developed between Council and its employees. The emphasis of the new structure is one of ‘Growing our Own’. Local Government has been grappling with significant challenges in relation to recruitment and retention of skilled staff and accessing training opportunities to enhance workforce skills and capability and the strategic future is looking to have the right people in the right position. The Growing Our Own philosophy seeks to have 5-10% of the workforce provided though trainees and apprentices creating a pathway for our youth to explore local government opportunities.
A Borrowing Policy Review will be put on public exhibition with submissions from the public invited. The requirement for a Borrowing Policy was identified with the growing Capital Works program and the need to create a formal Borrowing Policy to address the types of borrowings options available and the governance requirements.
All meetings are also available via zoom and recorded and available on the Council website.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.
Councillor Lauren Trembath