July Council Meeting Round Up

Mayoral Minute

Council supported the Mayoral Minute acknowledging the success of the 2026 NAIDOC Week activities led by the Onerwal Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC), sponsored by National Indigenous Australians Agency and supported by Yass Valley Council.

Planning and Environment

• DA260104 - Manufactured Dwelling - 92 Woodbury Drive, Sutton. Council endorsed the recommendation for conditional development consent to be issued for development application at 92 Woodbury Drive, Sutton.
  
  
• DA 240276 - Draft Voluntary Planning Agreement - Lot 29 Subdivision - 2402 Sutton Road, Sutton. Council endorsed the recommendation for the Draft Voluntary Planning Agreement relating to DA240276 be placed on public exhibition and for it to be endorsed should no submissions be received.
  
  
• Murrumbateman Pump Track - Site Determination. Council endorsed the selection of the southern sand arena within the Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds for the construction of a pump track, and directed Council to make direct contact with Murrumbateman Pump Track Inc to advise of the resolution and organise an initial planning meeting by the end of August 2026.
  
  
• Environmental Planning and Assessment (Statement of Expectations) Order 2026. Council noted the report on NSW Government planning reforms, including updated Ministerial Expectations aimed at reducing assessment timeframes.  That Council amend the Yass Valley Development Control Plan (DCP) to increase the number of unresolved submissions from four (4) to ten (10) before the DA requires that a determination be made by Council.  The amended DCP be placed on public exhibition for 14 Days and a report be presented back to Council in the event that there are material or unresolved objections.
  
  
• Membership – Sport and Open Space Advisory Committee. Council has appointed Rachael Slocomb and Kim Williams as the new Councillor alternate delegate for Sport and Open Space Committee and accepts the late Expression of Interest from two candidates and confirm their memberships.
  
  
• Pool Service Review. Noting the addition of heating equipment to the Yass Memorial Swimming Pool, Council resolved to trial an extension of the season and opening hours in the 26/27 swim season. The predicted $51,000 shortfall in the 2026/2027 budget for Yass Memorial Swimming Pool to be covered by the internally restricted Electricity Savings Reserve, which has a balance of $96,720. Additional alternate service provision options be considered and a further report be brought to Council by June 2027.
  
  
• Advocacy Paper for Funding Priorities. Council resolved to endorse the below list of projects for advocating funding priorities in Yass Valley to candidates in the upcoming State election.

• State Government
  1.Barton Highway Upgrade - duplication and Murrumbateman bypass
  2.New Yass Hospital
  3.Federal Highway and Shingle Hill Way Intersection Upgrade
  4.Hume Highway and Yass Valley Way Intersection Safety Improvements
  5.Hume Highway and Burley Griffin Way Intersection Upgrade
  6.Hume Highway and Lachlan Valley Way Intersection Upgrade

  Council Essential Infrastructure
  1.Morton Low Level Reservoir replacement
  2.Yass Sewerage Treatment Plant Augmentation
  3.Yass Murrumbateman Water Security
  4.Crago Mill Precinct
  5.Sutton Bypass
  6.Binalong Bypass

  Community Infrastructure
  1.Yass Memorial Pool Upgrade
  2.Comur Street Master Plan
  3.Victoria Park Sporting Precinct Upgrades including indoor sports complex and heated aquatic centre
  4.Yass Caravan Park Amenities
  5.Murrumbateman Winery Trail Stage 2
  6.Murrumbateman Winery Trail Stage 3
  7.Yass Soldiers Memorial Hall Upgrade
  8.Murrumbateman Pump Track
  9.Yass Rail Trail

• Yass Valley Strategic Future Fund Framework – Update. Council noted the report update and a further update to be provided to the October Council meeting.
  
  
• Post-Exhibition Report – Proposed Name Yass Rotary Lookout. Council endorsed the name of the lookout at 17 Irvine Drive, Yass as the ‘Yass Rotary Lookout’ and arrange for suitable signage and signification work to take place post construction.

Corporate and Community

• Code of Meeting Practice and the Effect of the Local Government Amendment (Meetings) Regulation 2026. Council adopted the attached Code of Meeting Practice and noted the changes to the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021 and the implications of the Local Government (General) Amendment (Meetings) Regulation 2026.

Policies: Council resolved the following Policies as per the recommendations.

• Draft Access to Information Policy. Council endorsed the draft Access to Information Policy for exhibition and consultation for a minimum of 28 days. If no material submissions are received, the Policy be adopted.

• Draft Councillor Meetings with Registered Lobbyists and Property Developers Policy. Council endorse the draft policy for exhibition and consultation for a minimum of 28 days, if no material submissions are received, the Policy be adopted.
  
  
• Post-Exhibition Report – Workplace Surveillance Policy. Council adopts the Workplace Surveillance Policy as attached to this report.

• Investment and Borrowing and Monthly Financial Reports.  The reports were noted.
  
  
• Monthly Key Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence. The correspondence was noted.
  
  
• Minutes of the Murrumbateman Recreation Ground Focus Group (30 July 2025).  The minutes were noted for information.
  
  
• Minutes of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (30 March 2026).  The minutes were noted for information.
  
  
• Minutes of the 2026 National General Assembly of Local Government (23-25 June 2026).  The minutes were noted for information.
  
  

Infrastructure and Assets

• Program for Energy & Environmental Risk Solutions (PEERS) - Update. That Council notes the name change of PEERS3 Extension to PEERS4 and the CEO be delegated authority to continue engaging with the PEERS4 procurement process on the terms outlined in Resolution 437/25.
  
  
• Update – Roads Review 2026. Council accepted the NTRO Roads Review, which confirmed that Yass Valley Council has a strong understanding of its road network, supported by comprehensive asset data, established road classifications, and committed staff. The review identified a significant funding shortfall as the primary challenge to maintaining road assets, with an estimated additional $10 million per year required for maintenance and renewal.

Council endorsed the report recommendations and directed the CEO to implement actions within existing budgets, investigate further efficiencies, report on progress and road maintenance improvements by October 2026, and present a further report detailing future funding options to address the long-term gap. Council also committed to ongoing public reporting of road works and approved $44,818 from the Roads Reserve for local road vegetation maintenance.

• Notice of Motion – Councillor Fleur Flanery

• Federal Government Big Bag Recovery Program. Council resolved to investigate its participation in the Big Bag Recovery Program.

Questions with Notice

Responses were provided for Questions with Notice from Councillor Fleur Flanery

Responses were provided for Questions with Notice from Councillor Adrian Cameron

Your Voice Counts

Have your say on the latest projects out for public consultation by visiting Your Voice Counts

The full set of minutes are available on the Council Meeting Agenda and Minutes Page