In addition to funding that Yass High School will receive, the unveiling of the NSW Government budget on Tuesday, June 20 will provide Yass Valley with the following:
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- NSW Service Centre, Yass
- $6.9m for overtaking lanes on Lachlan Valley Way
- $100m investment in the new Regional Cultural Fund (RC)
- Share in $208m for transport projects in regional NSW
- Share in 500m for regional waste infrastructure
The allocation for Yass Valley forms part of the $1.3b of funding for a new Regional Growth Fund.
The Yass Valley service centre is one of 24 announced, which is set to allow residents to access hundreds of government services under one roof. The Service NSW aims to reduce paperwork and duplication.
MP Pru Goward said the service centre was scheduled to be the first one for development. “We should get it going soon as the Yass Valley is a growing region. The people of Yass believe and expect that the new service is a matter of priority,” she said.
Ms Goward said she spoke with Minister for Finance and Services Dominic Perrottet about fast-tracking the development.
“I mentioned that we should be starting in growth areas. In Yass, we’re seeing growth and it’s a community that can use a centre,” she said.
The funds for Lachlan Valley Way is set to be used within the 2017–18 financial year to develop all required overtaking lanes. “We believe we can spend all that in the year to upgrade that particularly road,” Ms Goward said.
Yass Valley mayor Rowena Abbey said the it was great to see “this investment into our local area, improving our schools, services and roads”.
“We look forward to sitting down with minister Goward and understanding more details about the projects.” Cr Abbey said the 2017–18 budget is one that invested in rural NSW.
“Rural and regional councils need to continue to have their voices heard by working together and ensuring that the State Government remembers the important and vital role we play in our state’s economy,” she said.
The newly established Regional Cultural Fund, in which applications will open on July 17, gives regional NSW a share of arts and cultural infrastructure and associated recreational and educational benefits
The Fund will invest $100 million over four years to drive growth in arts, screen, cultural and heritage infrastructure for the social, cultural and economic benefit of regional communities.
“It is a great opportunity for applications for performing arts centres or any space to ensure arts and culture thrives,” Ms Goward said.
Concessional loans under the Farm Innovation Fund will also continue with $75m allocated to assist primary producers to prepare for future drought.
In 2017–18, a $2.7b surplus is forecast and average surpluses of $2b forecast in the four years to 2020–21.
