The NSW government has delivered on its promise to fund the Yass water treatment plant upgrade, providing $10.935 million in its 2019 budget to fix the town's unpalatable and discoloured water.
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Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman had pledged to fully fund the treatment plant upgrade as part of her election campaign. Yass Valley Council estimates it will cost $11m.
What's in the budget for Yass Valley:
- $1.2m to fund a business case for the Yass Water Treatment Plant upgrade and $10.935m for the upgrade.
- Funding for Yass High School upgrades and planning for a new primary school in Murrumbateman.
- $59.4m to continue Barton Highway upgrades and duplication (state and federal funded).
- $130,000 to replace playground equipment in Coronation Park.
The NSW budget 2019 provides $1.2m to fund a business case for the treatment plant upgrade, plus $7.2m from the NSW government's Housing Acceleration Fund and $3.735m from the Water Security for Regions Program.
A spokesperson for the council said it wasn't expecting to receive funding in this budget for the treatment plant upgrade as the business case was still in development.
They said the council expects the business case to be finalised in 2020.
Although the council estimates the upgrade will cost $11m, the final figure will be determined once the business case is finalised. That would allow for additional funding to be allocated in the NSW budget 2020 if needed.
Funding for local schools
In a win for the community of Murrumbateman, the NSW budget 2019 delivers funding for the planning of a new primary school in the village.
There have been calls for a school in Murrumbateman for several years, with the local population growth and changes to the school enrolment policy by the ACT Government.
Mrs Tuckerman said she would be meeting with the minister for education this week to discuss a timeline for the planning and consultation. She said the planning would be done in the next year.
However, funding for a multi-purpose hall at Yass High School has not been guaranteed in this budget.
Mrs Tuckerman had promised $9m for the hall as part of her election campaign. The new hall would cater to the school's current enrolment and could be used by the community.
Mrs Tuckerman said the multi-purpose hall was listed in the NSW budget 2019 but that there was no figure.
"It's going to happen," she said, referring to the project's future, "but there hasn't been a monetary figure put on it because it would need to go out for tender, it would depend on the design ... we need to consult with the community and council."
Barton Highway upgrades and duplication
The NSW budget 2019 includes $59.4m to continue Barton Highway improvements and Mrs Tuckerman confirmed those improvements included the duplication.
The duplication has been on the community of Yass Valley's wish list for several years and the federal and NSW governments had promised $100m ($50m each) over four years to make the duplication happen.
The 52 kilometre highway runs between Canberra and Yass and is used by 12,500 vehicles per day.
The stretch between the ACT border towards Murrumbateman is a priority for the duplication.
Earlier this year, drivers gave the highway a rating of 38 out of 100 in a National Roads and Motorists' Association transport survey, with safety their main concern.
Coronation Park playground equipment replacement
This grant will be matched by Yass Valley Council, bringing the total to be spent on the park to $260,000.
The playground equipment has passed its 15 year life span, according to the council.
The iconic miracle slide at the centre of the park was also found non-compliant by an independent audit by Kico Playground Inspection Services in 2016. That means the slide has also been uninsured since then.
The current playground will close from October 2019 for the replacement. It's expected to re-open before the school holidays in December 2019.
