It has taken over two years, countless community consultations, stripping down of council procedures, a Special Rate Variation, and one ‘unfit’ label for the Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole to declare Yass Valley Council “Fit for the Future”.

The official news came Tuesday, December 6, as part of the Office of Local Government’s reassessment program, which accepted the proposal against the Financial Sustainability criteria, and associated benchmarks, as ‘fit’.

“This is great news for Yass Valley and is a reflection of all the hard work that has gone in behind the scenes to prove that we are capable of standing on our own two feet and that our plan for the future is a strong one,” Yass Valley Mayor, Rowena Abbey said. “This announcement means we can get on with the job at hand.”

Cr Abbey payed homage to the community whom she says throughout the community consultation have “...supported and understood the need for a Special Rate Variation which is the foundation of our reassessment proposal and long term financial sustainability. The additional rate revenue has been committed to a program of improving roads, timber bridges and community facilities.”

The reassessment showed the council satisfied the financial criteria overall, and met the sustainability benchmarks by 2025-2026. Council implemented a number of strategies to address its sustainability. Showing council met the criteria for infrastructure and service management, and its strategies were achievable.

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward says the Yass council took positive steps to turn around its financial situation.

“This is great news for residents in the Yass Valley because it means Council now has access to low-cost loans from the state government to deliver better infrastructure to our local villages,” she said.