CABONNE councillors have unanimously refused an application to demolish former stables on Reedy Street in Molong.
The move came at council’s August regular meeting last week.
In a report municipal staff had said the 150-year-old structure was considered to contribute to the heritage character of the area, including the setting of a nearby heritage-listed church.
A report to councillors showed the building was in significant disrepair with crumbling brickwork and major structural cracks.
Cr Andrew Rawson strongly supported the refusal, arguing that neglect should not ultimately become a reason to remove historic buildings.
“Negligence shouldn’t be rewarded by demolition of what is clearly an item of historical heritage for our area,” he said.
He also said old structures that may appear to be little more than neglected sheds could still hold significant heritage value.
“We shouldn’t just be allowing them to fall into neglect and then just to come along and knock them over,” he said.
New plan approved
Councillors formally adopted an updated Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), outlining measures to improve accessibility and inclusion across the community.
The plan was developed jointly with Blayney Shire Council and Orange City Council and follows community consultation and a 28-day public exhibition period.
Actions include accessibility audits of public facilities, improved access to playgrounds, footpaths and public toilets, disability awareness training for staff and accessibility criteria for Council grants.
The plan also commits to more flexible and inclusive workplaces, including return-to-work programs and quiet spaces for staff.
Crs Rawson and Aaron Pearson moved and seconded the recommendation, which was carried without discussion.
Cr Peter Batten left the chamber during the agenda time due to a declared conflict of interest.
Good work but more to do
Yeoval Central School students, Ethan Scanlan and Lance Dawson took their concerns directly to council, thanking councillors for recent improvements around the town’s recreation area before presenting a list of further requests.
“As we look to the future, we would like to make a few requests to further improve our community amenities and safety,” the students said.
Among the requests was a pedestrian crossing at the Forbes Road and King Street intersection and an extension of the existing 40km/h school zone.
A municipal officer said the intersection had already been referred to the Traffic Committee, with Transport for New South Wales considering options.
The students also asked for drinking bubblers at the oval and improvements around the pool.
Lot in Mayoral minutes
Councillors highlighted the importance of supporting local sporting facilities and keeping the community informed about Council processes during the meeting Mayoral Minute section.
Cr Batten spoke about representing council at the Molong Magpies Hockey Club Pee Wee Academy awards, which celebrate young hockey players from across the Shire and surrounding areas.
He said the event reinforced the importance of investing in local facilities to support young people and community sport.
“I think it drives home the importance of what we do in terms of improving facilities,” he said.
In another Mayoral Minute Cabonne Council has backed a motion opposing proposed changes to federal disaster funding arrangements, warning the reforms could place significant financial pressure on regional councils and communities.
Councillors highlighted the impact the changes could have had on the Shire following the November 2022 floods, with the proposed arrangements potentially resulting in a $4.6 million reduction in funding.
Cr Rawson said regional councils were already facing increasing pressure from climate-related disasters and should not be expected to absorb additional costs.
“This is not a time to be cost shifting to local government in times of increasing disasters, increasing weather-related, climate-related events,” he said.
Councillors also raised concerns that proposed changes to disaster funding thresholds could leave councils responsible for a greater share of the cost of repairing roads, culverts and bridges following future events.
What’s been done?
Councillors endorsed a 2025/26 Operational Plan performance report, with praise staff for a strong year of delivering projects and services across the region.
Councillors noted the vast majority of projects were either completed or on track, with only a small number experiencing delays or not progressing.
The report also highlighted Council’s support for local community organisations, events and projects throughout the year.
Included in the reported list of works were Cargo and Canowindra sports ground maintenance, upgrades to local caravan parks and works completed as part of the Community Assets Program at places like Molong Hockey Field, the Eugowra Historical Museum, and Hunter Caldwell Sportsfield.
Who’ll be where for Australia Day?
Cabonne Council has noted arrangements for Australia Day 2027, with the official 26 January party scheduled to visit Cudal and Manildra as part of the council’s five-year rotation policy.
The official party includes the Mayor, other councillors, key municipal staff that the Shire’s allocated Australia Day ambassador.
Celebrations in other Cabonne towns and villages will be organised by local committees and progress associations.
Meanwhile, nominations for Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Community Group of the Year, Environmental Champion, and Sportsperson of the Year will open on 7 September and close on 18 October.
Help us out?
The municipality will provide more than $2200 in assistance to the Yeoval Show Society through rate relief to cover its general rates, but the society will be required to pay its annual Crown land licence fee.
The decision followed a lengthy discussion about the Council’s financial position and whether covering the additional licence fee could set a precedent for other show societies.
Councillors also discussed the importance of show societies contributing towards their own costs, including through entry fees.
“Every dollar counts now in our financial situation,” Cr Batten said.
Council ultimately voted to provide the rates donation while requiring Yeoval Show Society to pay the $636 licence fee.
Thanks, but no thanks
Councillor declined an offer to buy council-owned land on Tilga Street in Canowindra, with councillors citing current economic conditions and existing residential land supply.
Cr Andrew Pull said he wished the circumstances were different, but “plain old economics and the way the world is” meant council should pass up the opportunity.
Cr Jenny Weaver agreed, pointing to available land in the Blue Estate and additional land coming up in Thompson Street.
She said the Tilga Street property could instead be developed by its current owner if they chose to go down that path.
Staying open
A proposal to permanently close two road reserves, following concerns raised by government agencies about future mining exploration and public access to a local waterway, was declined by councillors.
Municipal officers said feedback from agencies had identified mining exploration licences in the area, creating the potential for future development.
New South Wales Fisheries also raised concerns that closing the road reserves could prevent recreational fishers from accessing the waterway.
Instead, Councillors approved a lease arrangement, with the provision that reasonable public access to the waterway must be maintained.
The lease can also be refused or revoked if mining exploration progresses to an active development.
Trying to stay dry
Flood mitigation planning is continuing across the Shire, with Council highlighting progress in Molong, Canowindra and Eugowra.
Canowindra’s draft flood study has been finalised following community consultation and will soon come before Council for adoption, allowing the community to seek government funding for mitigation works.
In Eugowra, a comprehensive flood study has undergone peer review, while funding has been secured for telemetric river gauges and a second emergency warning siren at Memorial Park.
Molong has received $30,000 for vegetation and fallen-tree management along Molong Creek, while drainage upgrades at Piddington Park have been designed and costed.
Council has also secured funding for a new telemetric gauge and allocated $141,000 towards detailed design for Bank and Watson Street drainage upgrades and a levee.
A temporary box-wall flood barrier has also been purchased.
Councillors acknowledged the work is progressing slowly but said updated studies are essential to unlocking government funding.
Changed okayed
Cabonne Council has approved modifications to an existing function centre development on Strathmore Road, Borenore.
The application sought changes to the approved development, including alterations and additions and a variation to Council’s policy discouraging the use of unpainted Zincalume.
Council staff explained the variation was considered appropriate because the existing building is predominantly constructed from Zincalume, and using Colorbond for the additions would create an inconsistent appearance.
The application was publicly advertised, with no objections received from neighbours.
Councillor Rawson supported the changes, describing the proposal as “very sensible”.
Roads increase
Nine roads were added to the Shire’s Roads Register, including roads around Manildra, Lewis Ponds and North Yeoval.
Seven of the North Yeoval roads were transferred to Cabonne following a boundary adjustment with Dubbo Regional Council.
New dates
Cabonne Council has approved changes to its ordinary meeting schedule for November and December, with both meetings brought forward by one week.
The November meeting will now be held on Tuesday 17 November, while the December meeting will take place on Tuesday 15 December.
No ordinary Council meeting will be held in January 2027.
The changes were made to accommodate the Local Government New South Wales conference and the Christmas and New Year period.
Away
Cr Marlene Nash was granted leave from the meeting while attending a conference in Cairns while representing Cabonne Council.