OBERON must not slacken off in its anti-amalgamation protests just because last week’s public inquiry has been held, Oberon Anti-Amalgamation Committee chair Brian Dellow said this week.
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“That was only one round of the fight”, he said.
“There are lots more rounds to go, and we have to fight on as strongly as we have been doing.
“Oberon needs to take a bow for the tremendous show we put up atoberon the inquiry last Thursday. It was an afternoon of passion and good old-fashioned straight-talking.
“To attract an audience of more than 300 – not the ‘more than 200’ mentioned in the Bathurst media – on a workday afternoon, and have more than 80 speakers express their views, shows that the anti-amalgamation anger is solid.”
In contrast, Mr Dellow said the Bathurst inquiry held last week was a “wishy-washy affair”.
“[It] showed that the people of Bathurst just don’t care,” he said. “Oberon speakers made up more than half the speaking list, and the audience was made up mainly of Oberon people.
“The fact that it was all over in just over half the allotted three hours was a fair indication of Bathurst’s interest. The inquiry also showed that the amalgamation with Evans Shire 12 years ago has not been all that flash.”
David Shoebridge, Greens NSW upper House member, will visit Oberon again tomorrow to discuss future plans. He visited Oberon several weeks ago while on a state-wide sweep speaking against amalgamations.
A public meeting will be held at the Robert Hooper Community Centre at 10am.
Oberon Anti-Amalgamation Committee will also have a display at the Highlands Steam and Heritage Fair on Saturday, where Oberon residents will be invited to join a petition opposing any amalgamation with Bathurst.
