2025/2026 Integrated Planning & Reporting

Re Waste Management, the "free tip day", was a welcome and warm-fuzzy, good feel initiative provided by Council! Whilst it makes good sense to cut expenses where possible, cutting the free day cuts the "feel good" too. The cost could have been off-set by reducing the number of vouchers supplied to ratepayers from 4 to 2 (particularly for ratepayers who live in the township and already have a regular garbage service.

Community Strategic Plan - Caring for the Environment
Please add 'flora' into - 3.2 Work with other agencies to protect local fauna and biodiversity - and partnerships with other environmental agencies other than forestry and government. This will allow for Landcare, National Parks and Reserves to be involved as well as other NGO groups, including Aboriginal Land Councils.

Thank you
Coppertones

LAND USE STRATEGY
Is council going to continue to use the government template for land uses or will this be tailored towards Oberon LGA - for example; (Please see copy and paste of Zone R1 General Residential below)

Under permitted with consent there is Oyster aquaculture - we are a country location and I can not see any Oyster aquaculture businesses setting up here anytime soon.

Perhaps the LEP landuses could be modified to suit our future of Oberon. (i.e. include home based businesses such as a market garden, community garden, plant nursery, hobby nursery) allowing those items not specified in 2 or 4 to actually be permitted with consent and not just up to the interpretation of the planning department.

Will there be community consultation prior to any land use changes being made such as the changes on Albion St from Industrial to Residential.

APPENDIX - COPY AND PASTED FROM OBERON LEP https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/epi-2013-0713#pt-cg1.Zone_R1
Zone R1 General Residential
1 Objectives of zone
• To provide for the housing needs of the community.
• To provide for a variety of housing types and densities.
• To enable other land uses that provide facilities or services to meet the day to day needs of residents.
2 Permitted without consent
Home occupations
3 Permitted with consent
Attached dwellings; Boarding houses; Business identification signs; Centre-based child care facilities; Community facilities; Dwelling houses; Group homes; Home industries; Hostels; Multi dwelling housing; Neighbourhood shops; Oyster aquaculture; Places of public worship; Pond-based aquaculture; Residential flat buildings; Respite day care centres; Roads; Semi-detached dwellings; Seniors housing; Shop top housing; Tank-based aquaculture; Water reticulation systems; Any other development not specified in item 2 or 4
4 Prohibited
Agriculture; Air transport facilities; Airstrips; Amusement centres; Animal boarding or training establishments; Backpackers’ accommodation; Biosolids treatment facilities; Boat building and repair facilities; Boat launching ramps; Boat sheds; Camping grounds; Car parks; Caravan parks; Cemeteries; Charter and tourism boating facilities; Commercial premises; Correctional centres; Crematoria; Depots; Eco-tourist facilities; Electricity generating works; Entertainment facilities; Environmental facilities; Extractive industries; Farm buildings; Farm stay accommodation; Forestry; Freight transport facilities; Function centres; Heavy industrial storage establishments; Helipads; Highway service centres; Home occupations (sex services); Industrial retail outlets; Industrial training facilities; Industries; Jetties; Local distribution premises; Marinas; Mooring pens; Moorings; Mortuaries; Open cut mining; Passenger transport facilities; Public administration buildings; Recreation facilities (indoor); Recreation facilities (major); Recreation facilities (outdoor); Registered clubs; Research stations; Restricted premises; Rural industries; Rural workers’ dwellings; Service stations; Sewage treatment plants; Sex services premises; Signage; Storage premises; Transport depots; Truck depots; Vehicle body repair workshops; Vehicle repair stations; Veterinary hospitals; Warehouse or distribution centres; Waste or resource management facilities; Water recreation structures; Water supply systems; Wharf or boating facilities; Wholesale supplies

Thank you
Coppertones

WASTE STRATEGY
What is council plans in relation to recycling and household collection bins? Will a recycling bin be added to the general waste bin and are there plans to extend household collection to rural landholders?

Thank you
Coppertones

Why the dropping council kerbside pick up and the council vouchers for waste removal, Oberon has an aging community a lot who are not able to take there waste to the tip for recycling or removal and rely on other community member to help them out by disposing of there rubbish weather it general, green, metal or recycling.
If this is to be the case of council charging for waste disposal (weigh in weigh out charge) should the council not look at providing extra household waste bins, one for green waste and one for recycling for aging community of Oberon.
At present is the council paid by outside concerns to collect the green and metal waste for recycling?
With the cost of living pressures being put on the community all the time does the council not think that with this added burden on rate payers it will lead to illegal dumping within the community.

Dear Council,
As part of the new sewage treatment plant, is there any consideration to include Oberon East properties to be connected to the sewage lines?
Found an earlier study that was done for the properties in this area - https://www.oberon.nsw.gov.au/files/assets/public/v/1/services/east-oberon-sewerage-investigation.pdf
Is this under consideration?
Thanks

I also forget to add this statement does not make sense, brackets around the portion to be removed.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and we pay our respects to Elders both past and present.
(((We would also like to acknowledge our young leaders who are the Elders of today, tomorrow and our future. )))
Council thanks all community members and stakeholders who provided feedback during the development of
Oberon Council’s Delivery Program 2025–2029

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK – OBERON COUNCIL 2025/26 BUDGET AND PLAN

From: Councillor Helen Hayden (as a local resident)
Date: 05/06/2025
Subject: Feedback on Council’s Draft Budget – Let’s Be Honest About the Numbers

Dear Council,

I’m writing as both a community member and local councillor, to give feedback on what’s currently being presented to the public about Council’s 2025/26 budget. While I appreciate that Council is trying to be positive and community-focussed, I have serious concerns that the information on the “Have Your Say” page doesn’t reflect the full financial picture. This could mislead residents.

1. The Deficit Is Much Bigger Than $194,805
Council’s summary says we’re only $194,805 in deficit – but this figure includes one-off capital grants and excludes important costs. In reality, the day-to-day operating budget (when we remove grants and construction projects) shows a much higher deficit. That’s a major gap that needs to be addressed.

2. Some Grants Aren’t Guaranteed
Council has included $5 million in grant funding for the new sewer plant in this budget – but this grant hasn’t actually been approved yet. It depends on whether the State Government allows us to stage the project, and they haven’t confirmed that. Including that money due to current circumstances is misleading.

3. Cash and Reserves Are Running Low
The unrestricted cash Council has left is around $2.9 million, and most of our reserves (especially the sewer fund) will be used up by the end of this project. There’s also:

An existing $3 million loan

A proposed resolution at Extraordinary meeting (significant)

Rising staff costs and no clear savings plan

None of this is mentioned clearly in the summary on the website, which gives the impression everything is fine – when it’s not.

4. Roads and Waste Changes – Good Intentions, But Not the Whole Story
Road upgrades are a good priority, and the community clearly supports them. But the public needs to know how they’re being paid for, and whether this affects our ability to do other important things.

Changes to waste (no bulky goods collection, removing free tip day, etc.) are also being introduced without fully explaining why, or what the financial gain actually is.

5. What Should Change in the Public Summary
I respectfully ask Council to update the public information and:

Show the real operating deficit (excluding grants)

Make it clear which grants are guaranteed and which are not, or any risk

Explain how loans and use of reserves will affect us over the next few years

Be upfront about staff costs and what “back to basics” means in practice

Closing Comments
This isn’t about pointing fingers – it’s about being honest with the people of Oberon. We are in a tough financial position, and we need to have open conversations about how we move forward together. Better communication now means fewer surprises later. Don't soften the budget, show the real information.

Sincerely,

Clr Helen Hayden