Minimal direction has been provided for the future of the Yass Valley under the state’s draft South East and Tablelands Regional plan. In particular, there is little detail regarding the four key areas.

This means some of the big federal election issues for the Valley will not be a priority in the next 20 years if the draft plan is adopted. 

Yass Valley Mayor Rowena Abbey says she is disappointed with the plan prepared by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

“56 per cent of the Greater Capital’s population drives to the ACT daily for employment. 40 per cent use the ACT’s hospital system. A large percentage of students attend school in the ACT – what we need is for the NSW government to provide a focus for improvements to our roads, our education and our health infrastructure,” she said. 

“It is predicted that by 2033, the ACT and Greater Capital, which Yass Valley falls into, will have a population the same size as the Gold Coast, this is currently well over 550,000.

“We need some very smart strategic planning for our population to be able to handle this type of growth.”

Despite the local government area’s size and the ‘regional’ focus’ of the plan, the Yass Valley has been identified under the ‘Greater Capital’ area.  

The plan undersells the community, according to the president of the Yass Valley Business Chamber, Michael Pilbrow.

“It takes a higher-level view of how the Yass Valley and surrounding areas fit together. In particular, it highlights the important links to the ACT as the largest population centre in this region. 

“While each of us has a responsibility to make the Yass Valley the best it can be, we need support and investment from state and federal governments to ensure that the infrastructure and services across the whole region work for us.”

Mr Pilbrow says that Chamber members want to see high-speed internet and improved roads and public transport.   

“Our members don’t want more words but want action, so that our internet is up to the standards needed to do business effectively and bring more economic development to the area, as well as for health and educational needs.”  

“We also hope that the frequent mention of the Barton Highway in a state government document is an indication that the government is committed to playing its part in the duplication of the highway as soon as possible.”

The local area has been identified as a “high wind area,” which targets renewable energy schemes in the form of wind generated power. 

“While this draft plan is very high level, it has no detailed commitments from the state government,” the council’s Director of Planning, Chris Berry said. 

“The plan also doesn’t provide the council with clear framework when dealing with cross border development, which is going to become prevalent on our radar with the ACT running out of residential land.”

Despite stakeholder and council concerns, Member for Goulburn Pru Goward argues the draft plan makes specific mention of health, education and the Barton Highway in broader terms, acknowledging that 56 per cent of the Greater Capital subregions - which includes the Yass Valley - workforce travelled to the ACT for work and 40 per cent used the ACT’s public hospitals.

“Improving transport options and finalising and implementing the draft Barton Highway Improvement Strategy is a key commitment,” she said.  

Ms Goward highlights the state government’s efforts to improve cross border assessments making note of the need for the ACT and NSW Governments to work towards an education solution that acknowledges the growing and changing cross border education needs of the community. 

“We are committing to undertaking school asset planning to better understand where additional schools may be required, which is also what we’re doing to improve cross border health service coordination.”

Yet Mr Pilbrow believes Canberra services aren’t enough for the people of Yass and regardless of its proximity to Canberra, should warrant its own long term plan.     

“I think it is unfortunate that the summary emphasises Canberra’s services and facilities and then only mentions biodiversity and wind as key features of the Yass Valley.  In this way, it misses the chance to focus on other forms of renewable energy that are growing in the Yass Valley – especially solar and geothermal – and all the other areas of economic activity and potential such as agriculture, construction and professional services,” he continued. 

The draft South East and Tablelands Regional Plan is open for public comment until August 23 and both stakeholders and council is urging residents to read the documentation and give their feedback to the Department of Planning and Environment. Once adopted, this plan will underpin major infrastructure and development decisions in our region. 

The plan can be found at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/SouthEast-Tablelands.