2026/27 Section 356 Donation Program

Further to my submission below, I wish to propose amendments to the overall funding allocation, increasing the total recommended allocation from $39,125 to $42,450.

The proposed changes are as follows:

• Black Springs Community Association – Yearly Expenses & Insurance
I propose that $825 be allocated toward insurance and operational expenses. This would place the allocation in line with the approved insurance funding provided to the O’Connell Valley Community Group and provide a more equitable outcome between village-based community organisations.

• Burraga District Community Association – Hall Awning Project
I propose that $1,000 be allocated toward the awning project. The awning provides practical community benefit during meetings, gatherings, events and activities held at the hall and assists in protecting community infrastructure and improving usability of the facility.

• Oberon Matters – Local Journalism Support
I propose that $500 be allocated to Oberon Matters in recognition of the significant contribution local journalism and online reporting provides throughout the Oberon LGA. Oberon Matters attends local events, reports on community activities and covers Ordinary Council Meetings, improving community awareness, engagement and transparency. I believe a modest contribution toward this service is justified and beneficial to the wider community.

• Oberon Rotary Club – Rejuvenation of Local Signage
I propose that $1,000 be allocated to assist Rotary with the rejuvenation of the entry signage into Oberon. Rotary is an important volunteer community organisation, and the improvement of town entry signage contributes to community presentation, visitor expectations and civic pride throughout the district.

I also wish to raise broader concerns regarding support for major community events.

Council should strongly consider significantly increasing support toward the Oberon Show, the Oberon Show and the Oberon Rodeo are two of the largest and most important annual community events within the Oberon LGA.

In particular, I believe Council should seriously consider sponsoring the full cost of the Oberon Show fireworks display and proudly promoting the event as being supported by Oberon Council. Agricultural shows across regional NSW are declining, and if Council wishes to preserve these important community traditions, stronger visible support is required.

I also seek clarification regarding the allocation of $1,000 toward the Oberon Show Society Young Woman of the Year event, particularly where the application report notes that no requested amount was provided within the application.

I am uncertain how the panel determined an allocation amount in the absence of a requested figure.

In addition, while I acknowledge the historical significance of the Young Woman competition, I personally hold concerns regarding the exclusivity of gender-specific competitions. I believe there should be consideration toward more inclusive youth agricultural ambassador or leadership-style programs that equally recognise both young men and young women participating within agricultural communities.

I further note inconsistency regarding insurance-related applications.

The O’Connell Public School P&C insurance application was not supported, with similar reasoning used to that applied to the Black Springs Community Association operational expenses application.

However, the O’Connell Valley Community Group did receive funding toward insurance costs. This creates confusion regarding how insurance and operational applications are being assessed and whether the same assessment principles are being applied consistently across all applicants.

I also note that O’Connell is not formally a village in the same context as Black Springs or Burraga, but rather a broader rural locality, which further raises questions around the consistency of the assessment rationale.

While I have not included an additional allocation for the O’Connell Public School P&C insurance request within my revised total allocation amount of $42,450, I do believe Council should reconsider that application if insurance support is being provided to comparable organisations elsewhere within the program.

Finally, regarding the Edith Recreation Reserve sanitation project, I am satisfied provided Council commits to formally engaging with the group and assisting them through a partnership or support arrangement to help guide the project and future planning. In-kind assistance and Council guidance can be just as valuable to small volunteer organisations as direct funding support.

These comments are provided respectfully and in the interest of ensuring the Section 356 process remains equitable, transparent, consistent and supportive of the broader Oberon community.

Clr Helen Hayden

Submission - Section 356 Financial Assistance Program 2026/2027

To Oberon Council,

I wish to make a submission regarding the proposed Section 356 Financial Assistance allocations currently on public exhibition.

While I acknowledge the work undertaken by the assessment panel, I hold significant concerns regarding the consistency, fairness and governance process surrounding a number of the proposed allocations.

Firstly, I do not believe Black Springs and O’Connell have been treated equitably in relation to operational assistance and insurance-related funding.

The Black Springs Community Association application seeking assistance for yearly expenses including insurance, website hosting and consumables was allocated $0, with the evaluation comments stating that the application had “less alignment with Section 356 objectives” and focused on “operational needs rather than community initiatives.”

However, the O’Connell Valley Community Group application for annual insurance premiums was approved in full at $825, with the assessment stating that it provided continued support for community organisations benefiting village areas.

This appears inconsistent and inequitable.

Both organisations are volunteer-run village organisations operating in small rural communities and both incur insurance and operational costs in order to continue delivering services, activities and community benefit. Insurance is not an optional luxury for community groups - it is a fundamental operational requirement that enables events, meetings, activities and community engagement to occur safely and legally.

If Council accepts that insurance support is appropriate for one village-based organisation, then fairness and consistency would suggest that similar consideration should be given to other comparable organisations across the LGA.

I also note that the policy itself specifically recognises that financial assistance may include operational support and in-kind assistance. The policy further states that Council is to support projects and organisations that improve community wellbeing, foster inclusivity, build community capacity and encourage social engagement.

Village organisations such as Black Springs Community Association are critical to maintaining social cohesion, volunteering, local events and rural community participation. To dismiss operational support entirely while supporting comparable applications elsewhere creates a perception of unequal treatment.

I also strongly believe that Oberon Rotary Club should receive support for its signage rejuvenation project.

Rotary is one of the most respected volunteer service organisations in the community and has a long history of delivering projects, events and charitable outcomes throughout the Oberon LGA. The proposed signage upgrades are not simply cosmetic; they contribute to community identity, visitor presentation, civic pride and promotion of volunteerism throughout the district.

The amount requested was modest, and I believe Council should seriously reconsider providing at least partial funding assistance for this initiative.

Likewise, I believe there is merit in supporting Oberon Matters with a modest contribution in the vicinity of $500–$1,000.

Oberon Matters provides extensive coverage of local events, community activities and Council meetings, ensuring that residents remain informed about what is occurring throughout the LGA. In many cases, this coverage improves transparency, promotes community participation and helps local organisations receive public recognition for their activities.

Local journalism and local information-sharing are increasingly difficult to sustain in regional communities. Supporting a locally based independent community news platform provides broader community benefit and aligns with the principles of community engagement and participation.

In addition to concerns regarding individual allocations, I also wish to raise concerns regarding the governance process itself.

The adopted Financial Assistance Policy clearly states that applications are initially assessed by a Section 356 panel, which then submits a report with recommendations to Council. Importantly, the policy further states that “The elected Council makes a final determination on which applications will be approved for funding and what amount is to be allocated.”

In my view, this means councillors collectively should be able to properly discuss, debate and consider the individual allocations before any final determination is made.

The intent of the policy appears clear:
• Staff assess compliance and administrative requirements.
• The panel reviews applications and provides recommendations.
• Councillors, as the elected governing body, then discuss and determine final allocations.

That process is important for transparency, accountability and democratic representation.

Community groups across the Oberon LGA deserve confidence that all elected councillors have the opportunity to participate in meaningful discussion regarding the distribution of public funds and that allocations are being considered consistently and equitably across all communities.

I respectfully ask Council to reconsider:
• Greater consistency between village-based organisations regarding insurance and operational support.
• Providing support to Oberon Rotary Club for the signage rejuvenation project.
• Providing modest support to Oberon Matters in recognition of its contribution to local information-sharing and community engagement.
• Ensuring the final determination process fully reflects the role of councillors as the governing body under the adopted policy framework.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed Section 356 Financial Assistance allocations, I will provide further submission into allocations over the course of the submission process, this submission is to highlight clear inconsistencies, and hence why I did not support the motion as put.

Yours faithfully,

Helen Hayden
Councillor