May Council Meeting Round Up

Yass Valley Council is aware of the poor audio quality experienced during the live streaming and recording of the 28 May Ordinary Council Meeting. We understand how important clear and accessible audio is for our community. We are working to resolve these sound issues and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

To assist viewers, two additional audio files have been uploaded to Yass Valley Council's YouTube to help improve accessibility to the discussion and proceedings. These can be accessed through the below links:

Yass Valley Council - Ordinary Council Meeting May Main Supplementary Recording - YouTube

Yass Valley Council - Ordinary Council Meeting May Supplementary Recording - YouTube

The Council Meeting Minutes are available here: Agendas and Minutes Yass Valley Counci

Here is a quick summary of this month’s Council’s meeting:

Kicked off with a late breaking governance issue.

As a result of the NSW State Government disallowing the Local Government (General) Amendment (Model Code of Meeting Practice) Regulation 2025 late on 26 May 2026, Council swiftly rescinded its resolution adopting the 2025 Model Meeting Code, reinstating Council’s previously adopted code of meeting practice.

HOT ITEM - Monthly Key Incoming & Outgoing Correspondence

This item attracting more attention than usual due to correspondence from ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr to the NSW Premier, Hon Chris Minns. Yass Valley Council has reaffirmed it position that Parkwood must remain within New South Wales. The Mayor will invite the NSW Premier and the NSW Minister for Water to discuss regional water security, infrastructure, and the implications of ACT Government correspondence. Additionally, Council emphasized maintaining collegiate intergovernmental ties while ensuring regional community interests are represented in future negotiations.

Planning and Environment

• 46 Hillview Drive, Murrumbateman. Council deferred considering the recommendation relating to the shared path from the footbridge over Murrumbateman Creek to connect pedestrians to the Murrumbateman Recreational Ground.  A supplementary report to be provided addressing key stakeholder concerns.
• 24 Cooks Hill Road, Yass. Council endorsed conditional development consent to be issued for the construction of a telecommunications facility.
• Draft Statewide Community Participation Plan. Council noted the draft NSW State Government Community Participation Plan, currently on exhibition. It was determined that Officers are to make a submission to the Draft Community Participation Plan noting the strong concerns to the proposed changes to notification requirements for several development types.

Infrastructure & Assets

• Review of Workplace Surveillance Policy. Council agreed to endorse the draft/revised Workplace Surveillance Policy for exhibition and consultation for a minimum of 28 days, and if no material submissions are received, the Policy be adopted.
• Review of Naming Assets Policy. Council endorsed the draft/revised Naming of Assets Policy for exhibition and consultation for a minimum of 28 days, and if no material submissions are received, the Policy be adopted.

  It was agreed that Community Consultation be commenced to invite submissions on proposed names for both the Administration and Library buildings of the Crago Mill Precinct for 28 days. All submissions and feedback will be shortlisted and presented at a future Council Meeting for consideration. Council will then gauge public sentiment and report back to Council for a final decision.

• Yass Rotary Lookout. Council agreed to place the proposed name “Yass Rotary Lookout” on public exhibition for 28 days inviting submissions to name the currently un-named Yass Lookout at 17 Irvine Drive, Yass. If no material submissions are received, the naming of the lookout proceed to be adopted.

• Yass Water Treatment Plant Upgrade. Council endorsed the Yass Water Treatment Plant Upgrade Review of Environmental Factors for publishing on Council’s website.

• Update On Proposed 15t Load Limit on Back Creek Road. Council agreed to implement a 15 Tonne load limit on Back Creek Road.  Council invites requests from users for a standing permit to allow use during emergency conditions.

Corporate and Community

• NSW Local Government Remuneration Tribunal. Council set the Mayoral and Councillor fees for the period 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
• Financial Sustainability Roadmap - Quarterly Update. Council received and noted the report outlining the implementation of the Action Plan contained in the Financial Sustainability Roadmap.
• 2025/26 Third Quarter Review Statement. Council agreed to adopt the adjustments detailed in the 2025-26 Third Quarter Budget Review Statement. Council noted its financial position as of 31 March 2026 as being satisfactory, having regard to revised projected estimates of income and expenditure from this review. Council also noted that the 2025-26 Third Quarter Budget Review Statement will be provided to the Office of Local Government.
• Investment and Borrowing and Monthly Financial Reports.  The reports were noted.
• Monthly Key Incoming and Outgoing Correspondence. The correspondence was noted.

Mayoral Minutes

Future Fund & Removal of Commercial Entities Brands & Logos from Yass Valley Community Grant Programs Administered by Yass Valley Council. Council agreed to not permit co-branding with the developer or operator of the Renewable Energy SSDA where no sponsorship arrangement has been agreed upon. Any future benefit scheme that is paid into be re-branded. It was agreed that a future report be presented to Council on the necessary steps to establish a Yass Valley Future Fund.

Support For Campaign to Increase Federal Assistance Grants to Local Government. Council agreed to support and participate in the Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) campaign's core message: 'Invest in us so we can invest in them.' Council resolved to actively participate in the promotion of the campaign and requested the Mayor to write to the relevant Ministers expressing Council’s support for the campaign and urging their commitment to the proposed funding increase.

Hume Highway & Yass Valley Way/Burley Griffin/Lachlan Intersection Advocacy. Council supports collective advocacy to the State and Federal Governments to ensure the State Government prioritises safety upgrades for the Yass Valley Way intersection with the Hume Highway. Council supports prioritising Yass Valley Way for the Local Transport Forum’s further input on safety measures. Council advocates that the NSW State Government prioritise upgrades to the Burley Griffin Way and Lachlan Valley Way intersections in the Transport Budget.