Council welcomes $18.1M National Water Grid funds

Published on 13 December 2024

Yass Valley’s 18.1-million-dollar application to the National Water Grid Fund has been successful. The Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, the Hon. Kristy McBain visited Yass on Thursday to announce the exciting news.

“Yass deserves better, which is why the Albanese Government is investing $18.1 million towards a new water treatment plant – delivering a long-term solution for the community’s future,” said Minister McBain.

Yass Valley Mayor Jasmin Jones joyfully welcomed the announcement,

“Labor has delivered the vital funds needed so Yass Valley Council can confidently get on with the job of building a fully funded modern water treatment plant to properly service our growing community. With initial design reference tendering already underway, the community can expect the fully funded project to be completed in 2028.”

“I would like to personally thank our Federal member Kristy McBain for her passionate representation on behalf of the people of Yass Valley and Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek for listening to our community. I am also extremely grateful for NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson and Premier Chris Minns' important matching funding commitment, along with Labor’s NSW 2023 local candidate and resident business owner Michael Pilbrow, for his effective and ongoing advocacy for our community."

Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain stated

“Yass families and businesses have asked for a fix for decades, it’s something I’ve advocated for since I was elected in 2020, and I’m incredibly proud to have secured this funding before Yass moves out of the Eden-Monaro electorate.”

Together with the NSW Labor government, the twin investment of $18.1 million each towards the refurbishment of existing, and construction of new water treatment assets will improve the quality of drinking water – a long-standing issue for the Yass community.

According to a survey conducted by the Yass Valley Council in 2024, 85% of residents do not drink the tap water and seek alternative sources of water.

This project will provide greater town water supplies, improved water quality and additional regional development opportunities for Yass Valley.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, The Hon. Tanya Plibersek stated

“All Australians, no matter where they live, have the right to safe, reliable water. Yass is only an hour drive from Canberra, yet residents experience regular boil water alerts due to water quality issues. This isn’t acceptable and that’s why we are taking action. The new water treatment plant will be a game-changer for Yass.”

NSW Minister for Water, the Hon. Rose Jackson stated

“Every person deserves access to clean, safe drinking water every time they turn on the tap. “The NSW Government is fulfilling our election commitment to improve and protect drinking water quality for the people of Yass.”

Mayor Jasmin Jones elaborated on why this funding is so critical for residents.

“Without this joint Labor commitment, Yass Valley water ratepayers would have been $300 worse off for the next twenty years, servicing loans to build this significant and vital infrastructure. Labor’s funding announcement was desperately needed given Yass already has the 4th highest water rates in the state as we service loans that are paying off the raising of the Yass dam wall last decade."

“On Monday, Yass was on the cusp of yet another Boil Water Alert with just 4 hours left of treated drinking water available. The water team had to stop processing water due to the rapid change in raw water quality coming into the plant after a fortnight of storms. NSW Health were on standby to issue the alert however the skill of Council’s water technicians won the day, the boil water alert was narrowly avoided, and the reservoirs were able to be refilled in time for Tuesday. This, along with February’s month of Boil Water Alerts, demonstrate our community’s great need that can now be confidently met with a fully funded plant upgrade.”

Yass Valley Council Acting CEO Ms Julie Costa said “This upgrade aims to make the water treatment process more robust, efficient, and compliant with contemporary environmental and health standards. We would like to acknowledge our water engineer Kuga and the team for their ongoing formidable efforts at the aging plant and the successful application.”

Yass Valley Mayor Jasmin Jones stressed the community will be kept up to date on progress, every step of the way,

“Council is committed to keeping the community informed of the project’s progress and is creating a communications strategy that will include a dedicated page on our website for residents to track the WTP upgrade as it meets significant milestones in design and construction."