Mayoral Message - March 2021

Thanks to an extra $1,020,648 under an extension of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program, Council will be able to gravel re-sheet more unsealed roads throughout the Local Government Area.

Councillors determined at the November 2020 meeting to spend the money on the gravel re-sheeting of our unsealed road network. This allocation of funding will be the first step in re-establishing an annual re-sheeting program for the rural road network. Gravel re-sheeting of unsealed roads is an essential requirement to ensure that a grading intervention can be effective. The gravel re-sheeting program was suspended due to the drought and Council has been trying to play catch up ever since. The allocation of this funding will be the first step in re-establishing an annual re-sheeting program for the unsealed network.

I’m happy to report that Council has officially endorsed 209 Comur Street as the preferred location for the redevelopment of a new Civic Precinct. Although I was unable to attend the meeting on Wednesday, 24 February, I have been very supportive of Council having plans in place for key infrastructure so we can move quickly to implement should the opportunity arise. The endorsement of a site for the Civic Precinct and the decision to start preparing plans will ensure Yass Valley is in position to be shovel ready for this important project. As explained by the General Manager, Chris Berry, it is important to stress that Council is not prioritising the Civic Precinct over other equally significant projects such as a new Water Treatment Plant. The two projects must be financed from completely separate income streams. Under legislation, Council’s finances for water and sewer projects must be managed and funded separately to other new operational infrastructure such as the Civic Precinct. The cost of a new Water Treatment Plant can only be funded by Government grants and/or charges levied for users of Yass water. The money cannot be taken from one project and transferred to another. Should we be able to secure funding, I am confident that Council is capable of managing these two major projects concurrently, both with significant and long lasting community benefits.

We understand people have experienced more discoloured water recently, which was the result of overnight water upgrades. Council staff are working hard to flush the mains as quickly as possible and I urge anyone with discoloured water to contact Customer Service. In regards to the water treatment plant project, the peer review of stage one works has been completed.  It supports the proposed stage 1 works – to improve the quality of the water during extreme weather events - and offers a recommendation to bring forward a stage 2 scope work, however, this requires major upgrade works at the water treatment plant and fits more appropriately with the scope of work for Stage 2. Council is progressing the Business Case and funding applications for the stage one works. Peer Review on stage 2 for the major water treatment plant upgrade is continuing.

Did you know that women represent less than a third of all councillors and mayors serving on the 128 councils in NSW?

I’ve been proud to serve the Yass Valley Local Government Area for three terms. It has been one of the great privileges of my life and I encourage local women from all walks of life to put their hand up to help ensure council is representative of the community it serves.

The NSW Government is committed to inspiring and empowering more women to stand for their local community and nominate to run for their local council at the September 2021 elections. If you have a strong sense of community and are keen to make a difference in your local neighbourhood, then you should consider nominating for the 4 September 2021 local government elections. There is nothing more rewarding than serving in the level of government closest to the local community.

For more information: HERE