Oberon: a rural community
Introduction
Oberon makes a good case study of a rural community because it is coping well with change. Of note is this community's strengths in diversifying (widening) its forms of industry to preserve incomes and create employment. Oberon allows us to observe the typical demographic features of rural communities.
Background and demographic features of Oberon
Oberon, settled in 1863, is a village located in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. It is named after a character in the Shakespearean play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Oberon and its surrounding area is geographically flat. It is 196 kilometres North-West of Sydney and 1113 metres above sea level. The climate includes extremes of snow, intense heat and everything in between. Historically, Oberon has run 150 years of family-owned and operated farms involved in primary industry (livestock, crops, and agriculture). Change has led to decline in the agriculture industry (due to high running costs), low export returns and competitive imports.
The basic demographic features of Oberon are in line with the typical rural community. In 1996, Oberon had a population of 2600, making it formally an urban centre. 87.4 per cent of the population were Australian-born (of English or Anglo-Saxon origin) and unemployment was an average of 2.8 per cent (compared with 8.3 per cent as the national Australian average). Meanwhile, the average weekly household income was $623 a week, compared with the Australian weekly average of $635. We can tell from these statistics that the standard of living in Oberon is quite good especially when we consider that many rural communities are in both populations and industrial decline. Oberon is a community of hard workers and its employment and industrial growth, together with its unique resources, ensure that unemployment is minimised.
Economic and industrial change in Oberon
The effect of world trade patterns on the demand for Australian wool has led to a decline in the wool and primary industries of Oberon. Competing synthetic fibres and an economic downturn in wool purchasing countries (Japan and Russia) reduced the average cash income of sheep farms from $19 300 to $12 700 within a year. 81 per cent of Oberon's sheep farms were unprofitable in the 1998-1999 financial year. One of the strengths of the Oberon community has been its ability to diversify (develop and change) its forms of industry and livelihood. Oberon has made a successful change from primary industry (lamb and beef cattle) to pine trees as a secondary industry (involving the companies CSR and Boral), with resultant tertiary (service) employment. 50 per cent of the surrounding area is State Forest and radiated pine tree plantations. Along with the growing pine industry, there are a range of other minor agriculture crops doing well in Oberon including vegetables, trees and bulbs. Tourism in the local historic villages and surrounds has received a boost. The local tourist industry is being well promoted by an emerging industry of tourist accommodation, such as farm stays. Conversion of farms is a form of diversification and allows farmers to generate alternative sources of income to make up for large losses in agriculture.
Urban development in Oberon is a sign of economic prosperity and of population growth. The Cunynghame Estate is a council subdivision of 35 property lots, which CSR has helped create. CSR needs increasingly more workers for its timber processing growth, so it is consolidating (building up) and increasing the potential for housing in Oberon's urban centre.
Progressive farmers and Oberon's impressive response to change
Farmers in the Oberon rural community have used their initiative and the input of businesses such as Boral and CSR, to help themselves out of financial crisis. These are the features of Oberon's Primary industry. 'Class 3' grazing or pastoral land has been maintained; subdivision of land has been allowed on 'Class 4' (steep or tree-covered) and 'Class 5' (most difficult to farm) land. So these progressive farmers can keep making some money in traditional farming, along with business earnings in the sale or maintenance of land for planting timber; many farmers also mechanically harvest wood before it is sent to the processing mills. This diversification of land by farmers has created a new service (tertiary) industry, where traditional farmers have become rural managers. These creative and progressive farmers also create hobby farms (weekend farms, often purchased by city people seeking a change of lifestyle). Hobby farms are up to 2500 acres in size.
Oberon's Secondary industry features a rapidly growing softwood industry (pine trees), started in 1943. CSR commenced softwood operations in 1959, noticing the fast growing nature of these trees and the potential for growth in Oberon. In 1997, CSR's Sawmill and Medium Density Fibreboard Plant employed 220 local people; Boral Timber's softwood saw milling and kiln drying was set up at the same time and employed 150 locals. Both these factories operate on a 24 hours and 7 days a week, which shows how profitable this industry has become. As a result, various levels of government funded and trained displaced workers (moved from a traditional work type). They also funded the employment of timber harvesters and transporters to deliver mulch from timber processing to the business chain Australian Native Landscapes.
The Tertiary industry is also developing and changing. Tourism has scope for development, with growth of accommodation and the benefit of proximity (closeness) to Sydney's urban sprawl. Oberon has 9 hotels, motels and caravan parks, along with 18 farm stays, chalets and cabins, 3 B;Bs (Bed and Breakfast) and a growing telemarketing industry, with 22 employees, to support these . Oberon is also close to the large urban centre of Bathurst, so it can attract passing tourists and business. See animation 1
Heritage and community response to change
The Oberon community has accepted industrial and cultural change in its community, yet it has the strength and social organisation to stand up for the best interests of its natural heritage. Oberon has strong interest groups (recreational and political) for pursuing its community interests. A noteworthy example involves a protest in the mid 1990s over a proposal for a sawmill at Forky Creek. Oberon residents formed an interest group to protest against the potential environmental problems posed by the sawmill (such as noise, chemicals, fire hazards and traffic). These protests and lobbying led to a rejection of the planned sawmill.
