Donation of Paintings by Alex Ambrus at the September Ordinary Council Meeting
Michael Carroll and Noel Burgess donated four paintings by Alex Ambrus, a former Cabonne engineer and local artist, for permanent public display. Ambrus, who escaped Hungary in 1956 and settled in Molong, contributed significantly to local infrastructure and community life. His artworks reflect the region’s mid-20th century landscapes and history. The donation celebrates Cabonne’s engineering and cultural heritage, and Council expressed gratitude for preserving these works for the community.
Youth of the month – Penny Gosper
Council has named 12-year-old Penny from Manildra as its Youth of the Month for September 2025, recognising her exceptional leadership, sporting achievements, and community involvement. As School Captain and a member of the debating team at Manildra Public School, Penny has excelled in swimming, cross country, and athletics, representing her school at various levels. She has also achieved success in netball, playing for Orange Rep and Western Region teams, and is active in LIFE Studio Gems and the Manildra Swimming Club. Penny’s commitment extends to volunteering at school events, umpiring, and coaching younger athletes, making her a positive role model in her community.
Cabonne Council to Contribute to NSW Reconstruction Authority Inquiry
The NSW Parliament has launched an inquiry into the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s response to recent disasters, including the May 2025 East Coast severe weather. The review will assess the Authority’s performance, planning powers, community engagement, and use of disaster recovery funding. Cabonne Council has endorsed preparing a written submission to contribute local insights and feedback, with submissions due by 3 October 2025. Findings will be reported by May 2026.
Cabonne Council Adjusts End-of-Year Meeting Schedule
Cabonne Council has updated its meeting schedule, with ordinary meetings set for 18 November and 16 December 2025. No ordinary meeting will be held in January 2026, though an extraordinary meeting may be scheduled in January or February if needed.
Several Documents now on Public Exhibition
Several draft documents - including the Generative AI Policy, Roads Management Policy, and Code of Meeting Practice are now on public exhibition for 28 days and available on Cabonne Council’s website for community feedback. Click here to view documents
- Generative AI Policy - Cabonne Council has formed a working group to explore the use of Generative AI (GenAI) and develop governance controls around its application. With tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini rising in popularity, the group made up of senior staff, aims to balance the benefits of AI with the risks. A draft strategic policy has been developed to guide responsible use, ensuring privacy, accuracy, and human oversight. The policy has been reviewed internally and by Council committees, with feedback incorporated into the current draft.
- Roads Management Policy - Cabonne Council has developed a draft Roads Management Policy to guide the administration and maintenance of its $437 million road network. The policy outlines which roads Council manages, introduces a formal Roads Register, and sets criteria for adding or removing roads. It also allows for agreements with private parties to undertake works within the road reserve. Following updates and committee feedback, the revised draft is now on public exhibition for community input before final adoption.
- Code of Meeting Practice - The NSW Office of Local Government has released the 2025 Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils, introducing a range of reforms aimed at improving transparency, order, and public confidence in council meetings. Councils are required to adopt a compliant code incorporating all mandatory provisions by 31 December 2025, with transitional rules ensuring that any inconsistencies will be automatically overridden from 1 January 2026. Key changes include a ban on pre-meeting briefings for agenda items, mandatory livestreaming of meetings, and stricter rules around councillor conduct and attendance. Mayors now have greater authority to call extraordinary meetings and submit mayoral minutes without notice, while councillors may only attend meetings via audio-visual link under specific circumstances such as illness or caring responsibilities. Public forums, if held, must occur before meetings and be livestreamed. The code also introduces new etiquette expectations, such as standing for the mayor’s entrance, and requires councils to publish previously confidential meeting documents once they are no longer sensitive. A draft code reflecting these changes has been prepared, with mandatory, optional, and council-specific provisions clearly marked for community consultation.
Council Prepares to Sign Off on 2025 Financial Statements Ahead of External Audit
Council has completed its draft Financial Statements for the year ending 30 June 2025, with a consolidated pre-audit surplus of $14.17 million. However, when excluding capital grants and contributions, the result reflects a deficit of $3.82 million, distributed across the General, Water, and Sewer Funds. To meet legislative requirements, Council is set to endorse and sign the statements ahead of the external audit by Intentus Chartered Accountants, scheduled for 22–25 September. The final audit reports are expected by 15 October, with public release to follow. Council has resolved to delegate authority to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Acting General Manager, and Responsible Accounting Officer to sign the statements, and has confirmed it is unaware of any matters that would render them false or misleading.