Mayor's Column Last Friday I had the privilege to attend a hearing with the NSW Parliament Standing Committee on State Development. I was invited as the Deputy Chair of the Central West Joint Organisation of Councils, and I had the CEO of that organisation with me. The issue the Committee was investigating was the ability of Councils to provide infrastructure and services to their communities. In effect, the inquiry was about Council sustainability. Council sustainability is a hot topic, with many Councils across the state seeking IPART approval for a Special Rates Variations, to ensure their sustainability. These variations are usually an increase of somewhere between 40 and 70 percent in the general rates paid by residents. Oberon Council is not seeking any rate variation. In discussing council sustainability, both the CEO and I pointed towards the attitudes of various state bureaucracies and the unnecessary delays and compliance processes that add substantially to the cost of projects and affecting sustainability. Cost shifting by the State Government was also raised. Cost shifting is where Councils are forced to pay for services or activities which the State Government has previously funded but has shifted that impost to local government. The Emergency Service Levy is a prime example. I also raised the issue of unrateable land in our LGA, particularly Forestry Corporation land. Members of the committee were surprised to hear that Oberon misses out on over $1,000,000 in rates each year from Crown Land that is used for commercial purposes. The Committee may not solve any of the sustainability issues but there are now at least a small number of State politicians who have a sense of the issues facing rural and regional Councils and what they can do to improve Council sustainability. On Thursday 4 July there will be an information evening for anyone interested in being a candidate for the September 14 Council elections. The event is open to anyone interested and will be held at the Community Centre on Fleming St from 5.30pm till 7.00pm. The event will focus on what happens after election to the Council, the induction process, the Code of Meeting Practice, The Code of Conduct, the tempo of activity, committees and some sense of the workload required. On Thursday July 11 the Oberon RSL Sub-Branch is holding a sunset service (5.00pm) to commemorate and honour those ADF members who fought and died in the Middle East Area of Operations between 2001 and 2021. Those dates cover the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq on land sea and air. There are a number of Middle East veterans in our area. Those veterans, and veterans of other conflicts, their families and the general public are invited to attend. Lest We Forget. Mayor Mark Kellam Oberon Council Administration Centre 137-139 Oberon Street, Oberon Ph: 6329 8100 Mon-Fri 8.30am - 4.30pm Oberon Council Library Comer of Dart and Fleming Street, Oberon Ph: 6329 8220 Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm Sat 9.00am- 1.00pm OBERON MORE THAN YOU IMAGINE OBERON COUNCIL Public Exhibition - Revised Policies At the 18 June 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting. Oberon Council resolved to place the revised Policy 1119 Fraud and Corruption Policy on public exhibition for 28 days: Thursday 27 June 2004 to Thursday 25 July 2004 and submissions be invited to Council during that period. Copies of the draft policy is available for viewing during business hours at Oberon Council Administration, as well as Council's website: www.oberon.nsw.gov.au Anyone wishing to make written submissions may do so to the General Manager, Oberon Council, PO Box 84 OBERON, NSW 2787, or email council@oberon.nsw.gov.au Submissions must be received by 4.30pm Thursday 25 July 2024. Public Exhibition SECTION 356 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REQUEST At its 18 June 2024 Ordinary Meeting, Oberon Council resolved to support the following applications for funding under Section 356 of the Local Goverment Act 1993 and place on public exhibition for a period of 28 days. Contribution to Burraga Sport and Recreation Club to support Club infrastructure $2.000 Oberon Golf Club additional fuel allocation $2,000 Walk and Talk for Life in kind support for printing $200 Anyone wishing to make written submissions may do so to the General Manager. Oberon Council, PO Box 84 OBERON, NSW 2787, or email council@oberon.nsw.gov.au Submissions must be received by 4.30pm Thursday 25 July 2024. Council Meetings July 2024 The Oberon Council Ordinary Meeting being held on Tuesday 16 July 2024 will be open to members of the public. The meeting will also be live streamed using zoom webinar facilities: a link to the webinar for the meeting will be available for members of the public wishing to view the meeting online and can be found on Council's Website - https://www.oberon.nsw.gov.au/council.council-meetings Meeting/Venue Council Chambers Community Services Committee Meeting Council Chambers & via Zoom Ordinary Council Meeting Date Thursday 11 July 2024 Time 4.00pm Tuesday 16 July 2024 5.30pm Hazelgrove Public School Reserve Committee Meeting Monday 22 July 2024 4.30pm Council Chambers Candidate Information Session CANDIDATE INFORMATION SESSION Council will hold a Candidate Information Session for anyone interested in finding out more about being a Councillor and standing as a candidate in the upcoming Local Government Elections. The session will be held on Thursday 4 July 2024 from 5.30pm-7.00pm at the Oberon Library and Community Centre at Fleming St, Oberon. Council would appreciate if you could register your attendance for catering purposes by contacting Sharon Swannell on 02 6329 8151 or email sharon swannel@oberon.nsw.gov.au Service NSW 137-139 Oberon Street, Oberon Ph: 13 77 88 Mon-Fri 8.30am-4pm Oberon Waste Facility Lowes Mount Road, Oberon Ph: 6329 8100 Mon-Fri 8.00am - 11.00am & 3.00pm - 5.00pm Sat-Sun 1.00pm - 5.00pm OBERON COUNCIL Oberon Visitor Information Centre Comer of Ross Street and Edith Road, Oberon Ph: 6329 8210 Mon-Sun 9.30am-5pm Burraga Waste Facility, Arkstone Road, Burraga Every second Sunday 10.00pm-12.00pm Black Springs Waste Facility, Dog Rocks Road, Black Springs, Every second Sunday 12.30pm-2.30pm Please refer to the Council website for opening dates Please visit our website www.oberon.nsw.gov.au or like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/oberoncouncil to stay updated on News, Events and Road Conditions Mayor's Column Last Friday I had the privilege to attend a hearing with the NSW Parliament Standing Committee on State Development . I was invited as the Deputy Chair of the Central West Joint Organisation of Councils , and I had the CEO of that organisation with me . The issue the Committee was investigating was the ability of Councils to provide infrastructure and services to their communities . In effect , the inquiry was about Council sustainability . Council sustainability is a hot topic , with many Councils across the state seeking IPART approval for a Special Rates Variations , to ensure their sustainability . These variations are usually an increase of somewhere between 40 and 70 percent in the general rates paid by residents . Oberon Council is not seeking any rate variation . In discussing council sustainability , both the CEO and I pointed towards the attitudes of various state bureaucracies and the unnecessary delays and compliance processes that add substantially to the cost of projects and affecting sustainability . Cost shifting by the State Government was also raised . Cost shifting is where Councils are forced to pay for services or activities which the State Government has previously funded but has shifted that impost to local government . The Emergency Service Levy is a prime example . I also raised the issue of unrateable land in our LGA , particularly Forestry Corporation land . Members of the committee were surprised to hear that Oberon misses out on over $ 1,000,000 in rates each year from Crown Land that is used for commercial purposes . The Committee may not solve any of the sustainability issues but there are now at least a small number of State politicians who have a sense of the issues facing rural and regional Councils and what they can do to improve Council sustainability . On Thursday 4 July there will be an information evening for anyone interested in being a candidate for the September 14 Council elections . The event is open to anyone interested and will be held at the Community Centre on Fleming St from 5.30pm till 7.00pm . The event will focus on what happens after election to the Council , the induction process , the Code of Meeting Practice , The Code of Conduct , the tempo of activity , committees and some sense of the workload required . On Thursday July 11 the Oberon RSL Sub - Branch is holding a sunset service ( 5.00pm ) to commemorate and honour those ADF members who fought and died in the Middle East Area of Operations between 2001 and 2021. Those dates cover the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq on land sea and air . There are a number of Middle East veterans in our area . Those veterans , and veterans of other conflicts , their families and the general public are invited to attend . Lest We Forget . Mayor Mark Kellam Oberon Council Administration Centre 137-139 Oberon Street , Oberon Ph : 6329 8100 Mon - Fri 8.30am - 4.30pm Oberon Council Library Comer of Dart and Fleming Street , Oberon Ph : 6329 8220 Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5.30pm Sat 9.00am- 1.00pm OBERON MORE THAN YOU IMAGINE OBERON COUNCIL Public Exhibition - Revised Policies At the 18 June 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting . Oberon Council resolved to place the revised Policy 1119 Fraud and Corruption Policy on public exhibition for 28 days : Thursday 27 June 2004 to Thursday 25 July 2004 and submissions be invited to Council during that period . Copies of the draft policy is available for viewing during business hours at Oberon Council Administration , as well as Council's website : www.oberon.nsw.gov.au Anyone wishing to make written submissions may do so to the General Manager , Oberon Council , PO Box 84 OBERON , NSW 2787 , or email council@oberon.nsw.gov.au Submissions must be received by 4.30pm Thursday 25 July 2024 . Public Exhibition SECTION 356 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REQUEST At its 18 June 2024 Ordinary Meeting , Oberon Council resolved to support the following applications for funding under Section 356 of the Local Goverment Act 1993 and place on public exhibition for a period of 28 days . Contribution to Burraga Sport and Recreation Club to support Club infrastructure $ 2.000 Oberon Golf Club additional fuel allocation $ 2,000 Walk and Talk for Life in kind support for printing $ 200 Anyone wishing to make written submissions may do so to the General Manager . Oberon Council , PO Box 84 OBERON , NSW 2787 , or email council@oberon.nsw.gov.au Submissions must be received by 4.30pm Thursday 25 July 2024 . Council Meetings July 2024 The Oberon Council Ordinary Meeting being held on Tuesday 16 July 2024 will be open to members of the public . The meeting will also be live streamed using zoom webinar facilities : a link to the webinar for the meeting will be available for members of the public wishing to view the meeting online and can be found on Council's Website - https://www.oberon.nsw.gov.au/council.council-meetings Meeting / Venue Council Chambers Community Services Committee Meeting Council Chambers & via Zoom Ordinary Council Meeting Date Thursday 11 July 2024 Time 4.00pm Tuesday 16 July 2024 5.30pm Hazelgrove Public School Reserve Committee Meeting Monday 22 July 2024 4.30pm Council Chambers Candidate Information Session CANDIDATE INFORMATION SESSION Council will hold a Candidate Information Session for anyone interested in finding out more about being a Councillor and standing as a candidate in the upcoming Local Government Elections . The session will be held on Thursday 4 July 2024 from 5.30pm - 7.00pm at the Oberon Library and Community Centre at Fleming St , Oberon . Council would appreciate if you could register your attendance for catering purposes by contacting Sharon Swannell on 02 6329 8151 or email sharon swannel@oberon.nsw.gov.au Service NSW 137-139 Oberon Street , Oberon Ph : 13 77 88 Mon - Fri 8.30am - 4pm Oberon Waste Facility Lowes Mount Road , Oberon Ph : 6329 8100 Mon - Fri 8.00am - 11.00am & 3.00pm - 5.00pm Sat - Sun 1.00pm - 5.00pm OBERON COUNCIL Oberon Visitor Information Centre Comer of Ross Street and Edith Road , Oberon Ph : 6329 8210 Mon - Sun 9.30am - 5pm Burraga Waste Facility , Arkstone Road , Burraga Every second Sunday 10.00pm - 12.00pm Black Springs Waste Facility , Dog Rocks Road , Black Springs , Every second Sunday 12.30pm - 2.30pm Please refer to the Council website for opening dates Please visit our website www.oberon.nsw.gov.au or like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/oberoncouncil to stay updated on News , Events and Road Conditions