THE ethos of Oberon Council is to carry out the wishes of the ratepayers and renters of the district and indulge good governance. State government is unhappy with small local councils. Probably the motive is to give its staffers practice in the political process, which is impractical with small councils, but it states that only large councils are efficient.
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My belief is that small councils can be efficient and are certainly representative, but council has to be rigorous in the consultative process and it has to offer enlightened governance or the hidden agendas of the bureaucratic process will take over.
I have a number of issues with Oberon Council, one being the development of the Oberon Common, an asset which could greatly enhance the attraction of the Oberon area. There has been nil involvement with the Oberon citizens and the whole process has been clouded with secrecy.
Firstly, I understand there was an in-camera discussion as to whether the land on the corner of Dudley and Curtis streets should be a development for housing to make a profit for council.
When this was discarded, a grader or bulldozer was trudged over the site ostensibly to remove rocks which would spoil the council mowers. This sledgehammer approach merely lifted more rocks and exposed what was deemed an asbestos seam, requiring consultants and justifying the dumping of soil to enclose the asbestos. I would estimate some 3000 tons of soil has been dumped on the site so far, altering the soil type and generally affecting the topography.
Another sledgehammer? A creek has been piped. All creeks are piped in Marrickville, but this is Oberon, and creeks are a feature here.
I would estimate some $200,000 has been expended so far and ask how a project could advance so far with nil consultation. I have contacted the Office of Local Government. I have written to council and councillors and have merely been fobbed off.
I am told a landscaper has now been employed. Surely his input is at the beginning of the project, not at the end?
What else can I do? Shout on the street corners? Mount a campaign?