Subsequent to the preparation of this article, Council will have met to discuss budgets and set priorities for the coming year.
Staff’s efforts in preparing these budgets have been made more difficult over recent years as the increases set by the rate pegging process have not kept pace with increased costs, which in most cases are beyond the control of the Council.
The increase for the coming year has been set at 2.6 per cent, or $60,000, which will be flat out covering the increases in electricity cost for street lighting, let alone any other statutory increases.
Having perused the budget document it is pleasing to note that staff have implemented significant cost saving in areas of discretionary expenditure and should be complimented on their efforts to implement the Council’s decision to ensure that essential services are maintained at a satisfactory level.
Although the State Government’s continued maintenance of rate pegging is difficult to understand, it defies all logic to set an increase that does not at least enable the recovery of costs beyond the control of the Council which, in many cases, are passed on by the senior level of government.
At the recent cross briefing seminar, which I attended in conjunction with the acting general manager, it was indicated that councils could apply for higher increases for up to seven years, although it is not easy to obtain approval.
I will be suggesting to council that we should commence dialogue with the community about the process.
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I have had preliminary discussions with the person nominated to oversee the review of the Fish River Water Supply requested by the Minister, and outlined the community’s opinion in regards to the matters that needed to be addressed.
Although still at an early stage, it was pleasing to note that it was indicated that the briefing given by the Commissioner in regards to the process was consistent with the comments that I had made.
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I have received enquiries from various ratepayers, including one in writing from Mike O’Brien, concerning future digital television reception in Oberon.
Mike asked for assistance with answers in regards to when Oberon will receive commercial digital reception, what will happen to Oberon’s TV reception when analogue is switched off and can the Mount Canobolas signal be extended to include Oberon?
Previous enquiries and representations by council staff in regards to the digital changeover have generated considerable correspondence. On the April 1 2010, Steven Conroy, the Minister for Broadband and Communications, wrote to council and indicated:
- That on January 5, 2010 it was agreed between the government and the commercial television broadcasters across Australia that broadcasters will upgrade a number of existing regional self-help transmission facilities to operate in digital.
- In his letter received on April 1, 2010 he confirmed that the self-help facility at Oberon had been identified by broadcasters as a candidate for upgrading and also indicated that the free commercial broadcasters had informed the Minister that they are prepared to offer a no cost transmitter equipment upgrade to the self-help broadcasting facility in Oberon.
This all sounds very promising, however, past experience has shown that the devil is in the detail and staff are at present pursuing clarification of various other aspects contained in the Minister’s letter.
It is understood at this time the changeover to digital in Oberon is planned to occur in 2012.
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In a similar vein, the installation of a tower to improve our mobile phone network has not been forgotten and will be progressed in the near future.
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I attended the Catholic Ball last Friday evening, which was a wonderful event enhanced by the presentation of the debutantes and their partners to a full house of family and friends.
It was also pleasing to see the co-operative and harmonious relationship between our religious beliefs which is an important part of our way of life in Oberon, reinforced by the attendance of the Rev. Tony Card and Pastor Andy Godden.
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