Public to get a say on multi-million dollar civic precinct for Yass

 Council has given the go-ahead to procure a consultant to start work on planning a multi-million-dollar civic precinct and go to the public to get community input.

The as-yet unbudgeted civic precinct is proposed to be on council’s preferred location, 209 Comur Street, and include a new library, small business centre/work hub, space for long term government tenants including council administration, community meeting rooms and even accommodation.

At last week’s council meeting, councillors unanimously backed a motion which would allow the community to have a say on the entire proposal including what might be included or removed from the scope of works as well as an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed location.

Expected to cost millions, no budget has been set until the design is known, costed and approved.

Council was keen to stress other projects the community needs are still moving forward.

In February 2020, council endorsed the following ‘wish list’ and resolved to undertake planning and design work so the projects would be ‘shovel ready’ in the event of grant funding opportunities:

  • Council Civic Precinct (including new library).
  • Yass War Memorial Swimming Pool redevelopment.
  • Murrumbateman Community Hall.
  • Amenities at the Yass Pool/Skate Park, Murrumbateman and Yass CBDs.
  • New Companion Animals Facility.
  • Parks and playgrounds upgrades.
  • Bike Park, Adventure Playground and Yass River activation.
  • Memorial Hall.
  • Murrumbateman Dog Park.

“Council has identified a number of infrastructure projects for the Yass Valley and these priorities are in addition to several major projects that have already commenced, including the Yass Water Supply Pipeline, a new water treatment plant, timber bridge replacement program, Nanima Road upgrade and Murrumbateman Winery Trail,” said Council’s General Manager, Chris Berry.

“Of these projects, Council has identified the Yass Pool redevelopment, Civic Precinct and Murrumbateman Community Hall as the main priorities for the preparation of ‘shovel ready’ plans.

“Money has been allocated in the 2020/21 budget for these plans, which once completed, will provide for more detailed cost information and clear funding options.”

Several Council workshops have been held and councillors have concluded that a new Yass Valley Council Civic Precinct should include, but not be limited to, the following elements:

  • New library (purpose built to reflect contemporary design and operation. NSW Government grants are available to assist with the overall project cost through the State Library program).
  • Community meeting rooms and exhibition spaces.
  • eCommerce small business centre/work hub (a contemporary networked facility that can be utilised for Council administration and community meetings but flexible enough for use by businesses within Yass Valley that do not have access to modern facilities and equipment).
  • Office accommodation.
  • Short term accommodation for Council contractors to reduce the cost of motel accommodation to council (acknowledging this need will be ongoing due to the geographic location of Yass).
  • Long term government tenants (e.g. Service NSW) to offset loan costs through a new income stream.
  • Retention of Crago’s Mill.
  • Open area/plaza.

“Council also examined several sites, including the former saleyards site, Goodradigbee Centre, former Landmark building and the Commercial Hotel site. Council selected the current Administration Building site at 209 Comur Street due to its central location and available land,” Mr Berry said.

Yass Valley Mayor Rowena Abbey said council is keen to understand if the elements for inclusion in the Civic Precinct meet community needs and expectations – now and into the future.

“The current administration building and the library are both not fit for purpose and council has a responsibility to its employees, and the community, to bring these buildings up to modern standards. Council wants the community to be involved in this design process. Your feedback is integral and will be provided to the successful designer for consideration in the development of plans,” Mayor Abbey said.

Local resident uses the open forum to have a say

Yass resident Rebecca Duncan spoke at the open forum and urged councillors to consult with the community

Yass resident Rebecca Duncan was the only member of the public to speak during council’s regular zoom open-forum opportunity before councillors make their decisions.

“I’m relieved that the council now has to publicise its intention to build a new precinct. Finally! There will be community consultation by submission process and forum,” Ms Duncan said.

“Though some at Council think the current site is best, others in the community may have great new ideas about what we can achieve with a new civic precinct, and I really hope they share them.”

Ms Duncan was sympathetic about the need for new office space but encouraged blue sky thinking on the design and the location.

“There is no doubt the current premises are past their use-by date, but at this concept phase of planning the case has to be made and all ideas should be on the table. Significant government grants are available that council can pursue to reduce the cost burden and ensure ratepayers get value for money. We should hear from as many people as possible to ensure we end up with an innovative precinct that both respects our heritage and is flexible for our future.

At what cost?

Mr Berry said preparing plans will assist in providing a clearer picture of the expected costs, which in turn will inform the financial arrangements to deliver the project if council decides to proceed.

“Grant opportunities and income from surplus land sales will be considered as offsets to the project costs,” Mr Berry said.

During the Council meeting, Yass Valley Council’s Director of Corporate and Community Services, Mr Mark Eady advised councillors that the time to borrow money is now.

“The reality is, money will never be this cheap again, so if we are going to develop this asset for the community for the next fifty years, now is the time to do it. If we borrow some of the money to do this, comparatively, there is no better time to service that loan with minimal impact on the ratepayers because the time value of money, say a twenty-year loan…the changing of interest rates, on one of those larger loans in relation to the dam wall puts us in a good position in terms of our financial ratios and in terms of our borrowing ration where we will actually be better borrowing today for the administration building.

Mr Eady stressed the time to act is now.

“So, this is a ‘point in time’ opportunity for this council and this community to build an asset and something to activate the main street as you come into Yass and it goes to community pride.”

Civic precinct – Crago’s Mill – located on the civic precinct site and earmarked for heritage restoration works

Councillors who spoke on the issue

Councillor Cec Burgess questioned whether all communities throughout Yass Valley would be allowed input.

“I just want to know is it just Yass? Are we going to go to all the villages for their say? It’s got to be everybody.”

Councillor Geoff Frost supported the motion and urged for transparency on a potential budget.

“I think there may be some issues that the community would want to raise in front of that consultation process, and that might be some discussion on finance which may well be, we haven’t got it yet, we don’t know what it is. You go to the community honestly rather than not talk about it at all.”

Councillor Jasmin Jones said it was important consultation happened from the very start.

“Our community is going to grow significantly, children and our elderly are a huge part of that population and are big users of a library so it’s important we get early consultation on the site, early consultation on how these user groups are going to use this new building wherever it may be.

Civic precinct- Yass library is currently situated in rooms attached to the back of Yass Soldiers Memorial Hall adjacent to Banjo Paterson Park. A civic precinct on Comur street would include a new library

Councillor Jones said it was also important council justified its preferred site and listened to alternatives.

“For probably over four terms of council, land has been secured around here (209 Comur street). We haven’t had a strategy passed down from one council to the next on what it should be used for. We need to show the community that we are going to be transparent. If we don’t do this, if we don’t say this is our preferred location, we will be sidelining the community, and if there are serious objections (to the site) we need to learn from our history. The park n ride was a great example of going too late to the community on a location, and I don’t want to repeat that.”

Councillor Michael McManus wanted to ensure a wide net was thrown.

“Last time we went out for community consultation (on a work hub) there was discussion about a country university study centre. I know it’s successful in Goulburn. The one at Cooma works very well. If the community does have a decent idea, we should be engaging and including it.”

Submissions from the community on the preferred location (209 Comur Street), and the scope of works (as listed above) are invited in writing:

There will be further opportunity for community input during the formal design phase. The final plan will be put to council for endorsement prior to any development approval.

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