Situated as we are in the Southern Tablelands of NSW, the Yass Valley is renowned for its peaceful, rural lifestyle, close to Canberra.

The Yass Valley area, and town of Yass itself, is significant due to its rich colonial history, with historic sites like Cooma Cottage and the Yass and District Museum.

Read the new 2019 edition of Yass Valley Rural Living Guide here.

We hope you enjoy this snapshot of life in the Yass Valley.

WATER QUALITY - This has been a repeated story since summer. Actually, it's been in and out of the headlines for years, but it surfaced again when a drinking water treatment plant failed during the summer holidays and brown water started coming through the taps. Read more on page 6.

ROADS WORST IN REGION - An NRMA survey found that the Yass Valley has the worst roads in the Canberra/Goulburn region. Three of the five lowest rated roads for congestion, condition and safety were in the local government area. However, the responses to the state-wide survey predominantly named main corridors, in our case Barton Highway, Hume Highway and Yass Valley Way.

$9 MILLION FOR YASS HIGH - Before the state election both major parties each pledged $9 million to build a multi-purpose hall and sports centre at Yass High School for students and the community to use. Read more on page 11.

FIRST FEMALE CHAIR - NSW Farmers Yass Branch elected their first female chair early this year. Yass sheep producer Carolina Merriman replaced longstanding chair Ed Story. Read more on page 19.

$1M FOR WINERY TRAIL - Early this year Yass Valley Council accepted a $1 million project grant from the federal 'Building Better Regions Fund' for the Murrumbateman wine region to create a 15-kilometre walking and cycling circuit to connect tourists and residents between seven cellar doors as well as the village's retail outlets, recreation ground and accommodation. Read more on page 9.