Jack Walker – President, Yass Valley Business Chamber, Michael Pilbrow – 2023 Labor Candidate for the Goulburn State Seat, Kristy McBain – Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Jasmin Jones – Yass Valley Council Mayor.
Last Thursday saw what could become one of the most decisive moves in Yass Valley history, if executed correctly. Tens of millions of dollars was allocated to the Water Treatment Plant at Yass with Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain attending the plant with representatives from the business chamber, the Labor Party and newly elected Yass Mayor and 4th term Councillor Jasmin Jones in attendance, to receive the announcement.
Noticeably absent was Rose Jackson who could be forgiven for having too many portfolios to manage.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek also didn’t make an appearance, but rarely does west of the Great Dividing Range unless upsetting farmers hundreds of kilometres to the west regarding water buy-backs. Although Minister Plibersek was quick to add comments to media releases.
The announcement comes at a time when Kristy McBain will lose Yass from her seat of Eden-Monaro. There is little political capital for her individually, although there is for the Labor Party in a seat that they will, alongside others, attempt to challenge former Deputy Prime Minister and 14 year federal veteran Michael McCormack for, in what looks like being a May election, where the coalition’s popularity at the moment is surprising even those within the party who didn’t see a way back to government after just one term and what was a solid refusal of former PM Scott Morrison’s policies mixed with the time they had been in power.
With Yass now falling in the more rural seat of Riverina it will be interesting to see what the vote will be for McCormack. He is seasoned, experienced and understands what needs to be done.
Labor is getting to work on getting noticed and addressing issues such as the water which has stifled growth for decades.
Large announcements such as the water bring with them good feelings that the end of dirty water is nigh, however, based on Council’s own predictions they will be lucky to have the plant fully online by the end of the term of Council, some three years and nine months away.
Then it’s the part that many over-look. The quality of the water mains in town. The pipes that bring the water from the plant to your metre. Are they rated poor? fair? good? excellent? Then it’s the quality of the land owners connection themselves which is then their responsibility to ensure is in good condition.
There is little doubt some of the pipes from the meter to the kitchen tap haven’t been changed in 100 years, but Council continues to be blamed for dirty water.
What data has been kept by staff as to the current state of the network and what priorities need to be addressed? You can clean faulty pipes until the cows come home. If faulty pipes are not replaced when end of life you will have the same issues again and again depending on the water pressure in various areas of Yass. Due to the topography this would vary greatly.
Council released the following statement: “Yass deserves better, which is why the Albanese Government is investing $18.1 million towards a new water treatment plant – delivering a long-term solution for the community’s future,”said Minister McBain.
Yass Valley Mayor Jasmin Jones joyfully welcomed the announcement, “Labor has delivered the vital funds needed so Yass Valley Council can confidently get on with the job of building a fully funded modern water treatment plant to properly service our growing community. With initial design reference tendering already underway, the community can expect the fully funded project to be completed in 2028.”
“I would like to personally thank our Federal member Kristy McBain for her passionate representation on behalf of the people of Yass Valley and Federal Water Minister Tanya Plibersek for listening to our community. I am also extremely grateful for NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson and Premier Chris Minns’ important matching funding commitment, along with Labor’s NSW 2023 local candidate and resident business owner Michael Pilbrow, for his effective and ongoing advocacy for our community.”
Federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain stated, “Yass families and businesses have asked for a fix for decades, it’s something I’ve advocated for since I was elected in 2020, and I’m incredibly proud to have secured this funding before Yass moves out of the Eden-Monaro electorate.”
Together with the NSW Labor government, the twin investment of $18.1 million each towards the refurbishment of existing, and construction of new water treatment assets will improve the quality of drinking water – a long-standing issue for the Yass community.
According to a survey conducted by the Yass Valley Council in 2024, 85% of residents do not drink the tap water and seek alternative sources of water. This project will provide greater town water supplies, improved water quality and additional regional development opportunities for Yass Valley.
Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, The Hon. Tanya Plibersek stated, “All Australians, no matter where they live, have the right to safe, reliable water. Yass is only an hour drive from Canberra, yet residents experience regular boil water alerts due to water quality issues. This isn’t acceptable and that’s why we are taking action. The new water treatment plant will be a game-changer for Yass.”
NSW Minister for Water, the Hon. Rose Jackson stated, “Every person deserves access to clean, safe drinking water every time they turn on the tap. “The NSW Government is fulfilling our election commitment to improve and protect drinking water quality for the people of Yass.”
Mayor Jasmin Jones elaborated on why this funding is so critical for residents. “Without this joint Labor commitment, Yass Valley water ratepayers would have been $300 worse off for the next twenty years, servicing loans to build this significant and vital infrastructure. Labor’s funding announcement was desperately needed given Yass already has the 4th highest water rates in the state as we service loans that are paying off the raising of the Yass dam wall last decade.”
“On Monday, Yass was on the cusp of yet another Boil Water Alert with just 4 hours left of treated drinking water available. The water team had to stop processing water due to the rapid change in raw water quality coming into the plant after a fortnight of storms. NSW Health were on standby to issue the alert however the skill of Council’s water technicians won the day, the boil water alert was narrowly avoided, and the reservoirs were able to be refilled in time for Tuesday. This, along with February’s month of Boil Water Alerts, demonstrate our community’s great need that can now be confidently met with a fully funded plant upgrade.”
Yass Valley Council Acting CEO Ms Julie Costa said “This upgrade aims to make the water treatment process more robust, efficient, and compliant with contemporary environmental and health standards. We would like to acknowledge our water engineer Kuga and the team for their ongoing formidable efforts at the aging plant and the successful application.”
Yass Valley Mayor Jasmin Jones stressed the community will be kept up to date on progress, every step of the way, “Council is committed to keeping the community informed of the project’s progress and is creating a communications strategy that will include a dedicated page on our website for residents to track the WTP upgrade as it meets significant milestones in design and construction.” With water infrastructure construction a small and specialised field, it will now be up to Yass Valley Council to see how far they can stretch the budget to not only fix the water supply, but to also over engineer its capabilities for generations to come. In 20 years time the population could be double and we could find ourselves in the same predicament. For now, bask in the announcement and the hope that a solution is on its way.
The Yass Valley Times contacted Mr McCormack’s office and he responded with the following statement: “I welcome the announcement of the Yass water treatment plant upgrade which will improve the drinking water quality for the Yass community through funding from the National Water Grid and the New South Wales State Government.
“This funding is not before time and I think a lot of people would have been delighted by this decision.
“I have had many people raise the topic of water quality whilst I have been in the community meeting people so I know just how important this project is and will be for current residents and for those who will call the Yass Valley home in the future.
“Hopefully, the work progresses in a timely manner to give Yass Valley residents the drinking water quality they deserve.”
