What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
Oberon's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan 2019–2040 (updated June 2025), a Delivery Program 2025–2029 and an annual Operational Plan and Long-Term Financial Plan, with the current term dominated by a new Sewage Treatment Plant, a first full waste and resource-recovery strategy, and new housing, employment-land and open-space strategies.
Council manages local roads, water and sewer, waste, parks, cemeteries, a library, a leisure centre, a visitor information centre and planning across a 3,625 km² Central Tablelands LGA of about 5,600 people. Its plans are grouped under the Community Strategic Plan's themes, and the Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
Council describes the 2026–27 budget as delivering a small surplus, with fee and charge increases 'kept reasonable and planned'. Its Long-Term Financial Plan applies a 5% annual increase to waste charges and to wastewater charges, and states that the operating performance ratio is forecast to fall below the Office of Local Government's ≥0% benchmark; the new Sewage Treatment Plant is funded through a mix of grants, reserves and loan funding. Council reported that 184 people responded to its 2026 community survey, which put roads, waste services and essential infrastructure at the top of residents' priorities.
- Oberon Council — Integrated Planning & Reporting (CSP, Delivery Program, Operational Plan, LTFP) · 2026–27
- Oberon Council — Community Strategic Plan 2019–2040 (June 2025) · Jun 2025
- Oberon Council — Delivery Program 2025–2029 · Jun 2025
- Oberon Council — 2026/27 Rates Newsletter (budget summary, community survey) · Jul 2026
Underway now
New Oberon Sewage Treatment Plant
Construction underway; delivery over about two years from 2026Council is replacing the existing sewage treatment plant, which it describes as ageing and no longer meeting modern standards. Grant funding has been secured and construction has started, with the Long-Term Financial Plan providing for loan funding alongside grants and reserves to cover cash-flow. Wastewater service charges rose 5% for 2026–27, taking the typical residential wastewater charge to $935.50 (a $253.50 access charge plus a $682.00 usage charge).
Source: Oberon Council — Long-Term Financial Plan (2026/27 IP&R documents)
Housing, Employment Lands and Open Space strategies
Drafts exhibited 2025; revised drafts exhibited 2026Council has been preparing three linked land-use strategies — a Housing Strategy, an Employment Land Strategy and an Open Space Strategy — that will shape where new homes, industrial land and public open space go across the LGA. Draft versions went on public exhibition in late 2025 and revised drafts followed a Council resolution of 21 April 2026, both through the Have Your Say Oberon portal.
Source: Have Your Say Oberon — Revised Draft Housing, Employment Lands and Open Spaces Strategies
Recently delivered
Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2026–2036
Adopted at the March 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting; ten-year action planCouncil adopted a ten-year waste and resource recovery strategy, prepared after two rounds of community and business surveys in 2025. It documents the current position — a weekly red-lid bin inside the town limits only, no kerbside recycling or FOGO anywhere in the LGA, and drop-off recycling at the Oberon Waste Depot — and sets an action plan across short (2026–2028), medium (2029–2031) and longer-term horizons, including a kerbside residual-waste composition audit ahead of any new service. The NSW Government has mandated a household FOGO service for every property receiving a red-lid collection by 1 July 2030.
Source: Oberon Council — Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2026–2036