Mayoral Message - September 2026
Published on 24 September 2026
From the Mayor's Desk: Two Years In
Two years ago, I put my hand up to serve as Mayor of Yass Valley.
I love our towns and villages, our farms and our vineyards, our precious natural escapes from Wee Jasper to Wallaroo, our big skies, and our bighearted people.
Two years on, and clocking 14 years service as an elected councillor, I'm even more convinced that Yass Valley has an enormous future ahead of it. Most of all, I want to see our kids thrive here and have the opportunity to live where they grew up... and for those who leave and return to raise their children here, to find the bush, the town, and the sense of belonging - better than they remembered.
But I'm also very aware that a good future doesn't happen by accident. It takes planning, hard work, advocacy, sound financial decisions and, importantly, a community prepared to roll up its sleeves and make things happen. Sometimes it also takes a compassionate response that a budget line in an operational plan can never reflect the true value; such as opening the pool for free in a weeklong heatwave so locals and travellers alike can seek reprieve no matter their circumstances.
Getting our own house in order
One of the biggest jobs of this Council term has been looking very closely at the way Council operates and, frankly, lifting the hood on the engine.
In my first months as Mayor I took action, and with the support of councillors, refreshed the executive. Council operations are now under the dynamic leadership of CEO, Ms Gayleen Burley who has made incredible headway building the capability and accountability needed to support a council in a growing region and has the strong and unanimous support of all councillors.
We have also developed and begun implementing our Financial Sustainability Roadmap. Looking fully at how we deliver services, where we can improve efficiency, how we manage our assets and how we make every ratepayer dollar work harder.
And the truth is, the engine needed a retune. There are definitely some parts we need to restore or simply replace.
Our road network is one of those parts.
We’ve done our homework with an independent roads review conducted by the National Transport Research Organisation. We know the task ahead. We know there is a significant backlog of chronically unfunded maintenance and renewal across our roads infrastructure. We also know that simply wanting better roads isn't enough. We need sustainable funding to maintain what we have, improve it where we can and build for the future.
So the next phase is about getting the work done right, getting it done efficiently and finding the funding to do it.
That is why the work underway across finances, waste services and other Council services is so important. These reviews are about making sure the services we provide are sustainable, fit for purpose and delivering value for our community.
Planning for growth - rather than being caught by it
Yass Valley is growing, and we have a responsibility to make sure that growth is properly planned for.
The completion of the Parkwood LEP and Development Control Plan is a significant piece of that work, creating the planning framework for a major new community of 13,000 people that will build our rates base as well.
Our village master planning work is also beginning to translate into real things people can see and use, including funding for footpaths, playgrounds and community spaces.
At the same time, we are reviewing our Settlement Strategy and our water sourcing strategy.
Water has been one of my biggest priorities throughout this term and I'm incredibly pleased that the $38 million grant-funded upgrade of the Yass Water Treatment Plant is now moving into the detailed design and construct phase.
Tonight, Council will consider the next step in the Design & Construct process, with the project on track for machinery on the ground in March 2027.
That is a very big tick for better water quality and security in Yass Valley and it is the result of years of advocacy, planning and persistence.
Building things we can be proud of
Our new administration building and library is open and already being embraced by our community with visitation doubling and expanded opportunities for collaboration such as hosting and supporting Onerwal LALC NAIDOC Week celebrations.
Bowning’s footpath network delivery and now Murrumbateman and Yass have multi-million-dollar footpath and cycle share way successful grants to fast track improvements and new paths.
The Murrumbateman’s All Abilities Playground will be opened next month by Deputy Mayor Butler who championed this grant funded project!
And then there is Crago Mill Precinct frontage locked away behind construction fencing.
I know we are all frustrated by the delay in the completion of the final works needed to open the front of the precinct properly to the street and footpath. I am too.
Our Executive is doing everything in its power to make sure the contractor brings Stage 1.1 (Comur Street frontage) through to 100 per cent practical completion by 24 December 2026 so we can get the works fencing down and open up that important public frontage and access.
We have also celebrated this month securing $10 million from the Australian Government through the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program, allowing us to move forward with the revised scope of Stage 2 and the restoration of the Historic Crago Mill building (Stage 3).
I can't wait to see key additions such as the yarning circle, community connecting at the Mill café and activating the spaces; along with cultural experiences anchored at this site as a regional attraction, telling our stories and coming together.
Councillors and staff are keen to see the commencement of Stage 2 and Stage 3 which includes demolition of the old administration building, the landscaping complete and all areas being used to their full potential.
Importantly, prudent project management, rescoping of Stage 2 and the progression of Stage 3 (the refurbishment of Crago Mill) with the recent $10 million grant announcement means the entire precinct, once proposed as a $50 million loan funded project, is now expected to come in at around $36 million.
That is the sort of financial discipline we need to keep applying.
Of course, the opportunity at Crago Mill goes well beyond the buildings. The precinct partnership strengthens the relationships we’ve established and continue to grow between Council, The Onerwal Local Aboriginal Land Council and our Elders, Yass Valley Business Chamber, Emergency Services and supporting organisations. We will continue to partner with, listen to, and rely on our village associations, sporting and service groups and the wider community.
Advocacy - and making sure it delivers
Advocacy takes persistence.
Over the past two years, Yass Valley has also swung hard in the advocacy space championing the Barton Highway duplication and Murrumbateman bypass, Sutton bypass and Binalong town entry safety - now delivered. Safety upgrades on Shingle Hill Way, Federal Highway and where the Hume Highway meets our regional roads.
We have stood up for our villages and our rural landscape when large-scale energy projects have threatened to get too close to communities and will continue to back our farmers and Elders in this fight. We have advocated for sane planning around turbines and battery energy storage systems, and for recognition of the extraordinary value of our cool-climate wine region and the tourism economy built around it along with the intrinsic value of our food and fibre agricultural economy and communities' contribution to our nation.
We have continued to push for the State and TransGrid’s HumeLink to properly recognise and pay its way through the communities that host infrastructure, including pursuing an ongoing community benefit payment for host councils.
I have been working behind the scenes to push for progress on the 4.7 Million dollar ‘Bub Hub’ which is finally taking shape at the Yass Hospital for a quantum leap improvement on pre and postnatal and continuity of care for pregnant women and their families.
We have advocated through drought. Including calling for stronger, better coordinated support for our farmers and we have taken Yass Valley issues to national forums.
Our advocacy for a national public swimming pool renewal fund is another example. Public pools are not luxuries in regional communities. They are places where our children learn to swim, families gather and lives can literally depend on access to safe swimming facilities to build skills.
After more than two years of frustration with hoarding and fencing around Yass Post office with zero work done and the public seats in front of it quarantined - I am relieved that our Council's frank and fearless advocacy to the Australian Government has resulted in a positive meeting with Australia Post officials. We have been assured that a works plan will be finally lodged now, with the repairs moving forward so that our beautiful building and those much-loved street seats can be returned to normal ASAP. I look forward to sitting on them with Clr McGrath on the sunny side of the street once more!
There is plenty still to do and I don't want to pretend everything is finished, in fact, far from it.
There are roads we need to fix. There are ageing assets we need to renew. There are more services we need to review to find ways to improve. There are community events and festivals to support.
Murrumbateman masterplan clock is ticking for one. There are communities that need better footpaths, playgrounds and facilities. There are planning decisions ahead that will shape Yass Valley for decades.
And there is more advocacy to do to make sure rural communities aren't simply expected to host State Significant Development, infrastructure, or energy projects without receiving a fair and lasting benefit or without a cap on what we can cumulatively take and where. That is the work still ahead.
And then there is the best part - you
One of the initiatives I have loved most during these two years has been Mornings with the Mayor & Deputy.
The fact that people have actually taken advantage of this opportunity is wonderful. Raising issues, suggest ideas, connect us with a project or simply come and have a conversation, tells me so much about our community. People care deeply.
Our next Morning with the Mayor & Deputy is Monday 28 September, and Kristin and I would love to see more of you there.
Because community is really at the heart of why we put our hands up for Mayor and Deputy Mayor two years ago and why councillors ran for election to serve their first four years or clock their 30th.
Yass Valley Council has at its core a principle to create a better experience in Yass Valley.
But I can't do that on my own. Councillors can't do it alone. Our committees can't do it alone. Our incredible Council staff can't do it alone. It takes our whole community.
It's the person who stops to help a pregnant woman put her groceries in the car (thank you, whoever you were all those years ago!). It's the parent still turning up to flip the snags at Saturday sport years after their own child has grown up. It’s a Swim Club prepared to work hard on grants for everyone’s benefit and a Council prepared to find the funds and a way to open the pool for two extra months. That’s the power of partnerships and teamwork.
It’s the people who put their hand up to give our young people another opportunity, like our new Army Cadets. And the spirit-filled work of volunteers at Community FoodCare giving a helping hand where it’s needed most.
That is Yass Valley. That is what makes this place home.
I would like to acknowledge the service of Deputy Mayor Kristin Butler and my fellow councillors who have been chairing committees, bringing their expertise and unique voices to the table, supporting community groups and committees, and fearlessly advocating for our ratepayers and residents when we come together to make decisions on your behalf.
Two years in, I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to lead our Council team, to listen to our community and to learn, every day, more about what makes this place special and what we can do to make it even better.
There is plenty more work to do. But there is also an enormous amount to look forward to.
And I reckon the best part is that we're doing it together.
Thank you, Yass Valley, for trusting me with the privilege of serving and representing you.
Jasmin Jones
Yass Valley Mayor
Mornings with the Mayor
If you have a topic or question or issue to discuss, please book a slot to meet myself and Deputy Mayor Kristin Butler. The next Morning with the Mayor is on Monday 28 September, 11am – 12pm. Bookings can be made here: Mornings with the Mayor - September Yass Valley Council