Why Yass Valley Council Must Stand Up For Residents – Over Land Grab
There has been plenty of theatre of late and it has come from the Labor Party. Premier Chris Minns chastising The PM over GST Spending when he knows he won’t get a cent more because he is riding a wave of popularity. He was somewhat convincing in his performance though. He could as they say in the Wild West, shoot someone at dawn in the Main Street and head back inside the saloon and still get elected. And they all know it. Minns, Albo and ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr. If Barr gets his way over a water ‘problem’ that could easily be solved, it will be a forfeiture of land to the Capital territory. And it will be Minn’s fault and Council’s fault if they don’t stand up. The answer could be a Golden one. A Goldenfields one from the west.
The Hume Highway has long served as a vital artery connecting Sydney to Melbourne and beyond, with Yass finding itself at a defining moment. The Yass Valley Council’s recent decisions regarding a major cross-border housing development with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) have ignited intense debate among residents, sparking concerns that the region’s future self-determination could be compromised by reliance on its much larger and more politically influential neighbour. 9 Councillors are now tasked with getting a better deal for the Council and its more than 17,000 residents and history proves, giving up land does not yield a win in a war let alone one based on water, a human write to the potable kind.
The focal point of this controversy is the Parkwood precinct, part of the ambitious Ginninderry joint venture development. This project envisions thousands of new homes straddling the NSW-ACT border, promising significant population growth and economic opportunities. However, as Yass Valley Council voted in late 2025 to retain Parkwood within its Local Government Area (LGA) rather than supporting a border adjustment, tensions have escalated. Critics warn that entering such partnerships with the ACT could leave Yass increasingly beholden to Canberra for essential services, particularly water, potentially exposing the community to future price rises and conditional supply arrangements.
The Parkwood Deal and Cross-Border Dynamics
The Ginninderry development is a landmark cross-border initiative between the ACT Government and private developers, aiming to create vibrant new communities. Parkwood, located on the NSW side, has the potential to accommodate several thousand dwellings as part of a broader vision that could ultimately house up to 30,000 people across the entire project, with a substantial portion in NSW.
In December 2025, Yass Valley Council formally resolved to keep Parkwood in the Yass Valley LGA, citing substantial long-term financial benefits through rates revenue and economic spin-offs for local businesses. Council emphasised its commitment to collaborative work with both governments while prioritising the interests of ratepayers. This stance marked a shift from earlier, less formal discussions where border adjustments had been considered.
The ACT Government has long advocated for incorporating Parkwood into the Territory to enable seamless service delivery, including water, roads, and community facilities. Proponents argue this would create an integrated urban environment without jurisdictional friction. However, many in Yass Valley view this as a stealthy expansion of the ACT’s footprint into NSW territory, potentially at the expense of local control.
Andrew Barr’s Strong Stance and Water Linkage
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has been particularly vocal. In a May 2026 letter to NSW Premier Chris Minns, Barr explicitly linked future water-sharing arrangements to a border adjustment for Parkwood. He stated that the ACT’s willingness to supply water to Yass Valley areas would be conditional on incorporating Parkwood into the ACT.
The answer is more simple. Minns needs to stand up for the people of Yass and NSW, that is what he has been elected to do. At the moment his string pullers are getting him to do all the right things to retain government. He is a front man with slick hair and a demographic mostly 20 years younger than those who actually want to be Premier, but who kept stuffing it up or who were in parliament under Labor’s previous reign of terror of corruption and maladministration.
Barr noted that the council’s decision to retain the precinct had “impacted the ACT Government’s confidence” in cross-border collaboration. He referenced earlier positions where the council appeared more supportive of adjustment, including possibilities for northern access roads. This recalibration, according to Barr, prompted the ACT to reassess its interests in regional water supply deals.
What Barr needs to do is butt out of trying to control what is a NSW water problem.
This assertive position highlights the power imbalance. The ACT, as a capital territory with a concentrated population and significant federal backing, wields considerable leverage. In contrast, Yass Valley Council represents a small regional area with limited resources. Premier Chris Minns has maintained a relatively low public profile on the issue. While discussions between NSW and ACT officials continue, Minns’ government has been described as “assessing” the matter without strong public intervention to date, leaving many locals feeling that NSW is not adequately defending its regional interests. Minns is the ‘Clayton’s’ Premier when it comes to the bush, many aren’t sure if he knows where the bush is, but expect him to get the map out to try and win Goulburn for Labor at the next cycle with a quick visit.
Water Security: Goldenfields and Local Vulnerabilities
Water lies at the heart of these concerns. Yass has experienced recurring challenges with its local water treatment plant, including quality issues leading to occasional “do not drink” advisories following heavy rainfall and catchment disturbances. While upgrades are underway, the debate centres on whether resources are being allocated optimally for long-term independence. They probably aren’t, in that the water will still be dirty and the NSW Government will struggle to physically point to improvements that would tally $30 mill when its done.
Goldenfields Water County Council provides a compelling regional context. This single-purpose authority supplies drinking water to approximately 46,000 customers across a vast 22,526 square kilometres in NSW’s South West Slopes and Riverina regions. Its service area sprawls between the Lachlan and Murrumbidgee rivers, encompassing parts of multiple local government areas including Bland, Coolamon, Junee, Temora, and sections of Cootamundra-Gundagai, Hilltops, and Narrandera. With over 2,100 kilometres of water mains, Goldenfields stands as one of the largest water utilities by geographic coverage in the state.
Yass itself maintains its own supply system but sits in close proximity to Goldenfields’ broader network. This regional interconnection underscores both opportunities and risks. A proposed pipeline from Boorowa (part of ongoing Harden-Boorowa initiatives) has gained traction in recent years. Local advocates argue that investing in such infrastructure could provide a more robust, NSW-controlled solution.
Critics of the current approach suggest that funds allocated to refurbishing Yass’s existing treatment plant could have been more strategically directed toward a pipeline originating from Galong. Such a development could service not only Yass but also Boorowa and support new growth areas like Parkwood, fostering self-reliance and mitigating risks of future ACT-imposed price increases or supply restrictions tied to political negotiations. Estimates for similar regional pipelines, such as the Harden to Boorowa project, have hovered around significant multi-million-dollar figures, highlighting the scale of investment required but also the potential long-term dividends in independence.
Dependence on ACT water infrastructure, potentially via Icon Water or related systems, could expose Yass ratepayers to pricing structures aligned more closely with Canberra’s urban demands. With the ACT managing its own growth pressures, priorities might diverge, leading to higher costs or conditional access that disadvantages smaller NSW communities.
The Imperative of Self-Determination
Yass is no ordinary regional town. Established in the 1830s, it boasts deep colonial roots tied to explorer Hamilton Hume, who settled at Cooma Cottage near the town. As a founding settlement along the Hume Highway corridor, Yass has historically served as a key waypoint for travellers, graziers, and traders. The Hume Highway itself evolved from early colonial tracks into a major national artery, with Yass benefiting from its strategic position between Sydney and Canberra (and ultimately Melbourne).
Today, Yass Valley is positioned as a growth corridor for NSW. Settlement strategies project ambitions for Yass township to reach populations supporting around 20,000 residents, with broader regional expansion. The area’s proximity to the national capital offers economic advantages in tourism, agriculture, and lifestyle migration, but this must be balanced against preserving NSW sovereignty.
Cross-border deals with a territory that dwarfs the region in population, budget, and influence carry inherent dangers. Unequal bargaining power could result in outcomes favouring the ACT, such as service integrations that gradually erode local decision-making. Residents and commentators stress the need for robust self-determination: NSW-led planning, infrastructure investment, and governance that prioritises local values over integration that might dilute them.
Council Spending Priorities Under the Microscope
These strategic debates unfold against a backdrop of local financial scrutiny. Yass Valley Council has pursued ambitious civic projects, most notably the Crago Mill Precinct redevelopment, including a new administration building and library. The overall project has been estimated in the vicinity of $50-56 million, with Stage One recently opened.
This investment has required substantial borrowing, contributing to financial pressures. The council has faced deficits and proposed significant rates hikes—ranging from 40% to 58% in various scenarios—to address shortfalls. Community members have questioned whether such expenditures on modern civic facilities represent the best use of funds when core infrastructure like water security demands attention. Roads, basic services, and reliable utilities are perennial concerns in regional areas.
While the new admin building provides improved facilities for staff and public services, critics argue it symbolises misplaced priorities amid water vulnerabilities and growth challenges. Interest on borrowings adds ongoing costs, further straining ratepayers already facing cost-of-living pressures.
Looking Ahead: Risks and Opportunities
The coming months will be critical. Negotiations between Yass Valley Council, the ACT, and NSW Government will determine the trajectory for Parkwood and broader water arrangements. A balanced approach could harness growth benefits while safeguarding autonomy—perhaps through ironclad agreements ensuring NSW control over key assets.
However, without strong advocacy for self-determination, Yass risks becoming an appendage to the ACT’s expansion. As a historic growth corridor on the Hume Highway, the township deserves infrastructure and governance that honours its independent character and secures its future as a thriving part of regional NSW.
Community voices emphasise that while collaboration is valuable, unequal partnerships can lead to dependency. Prioritising local solutions—like enhanced Goldenfields integration or Galong-linked pipelines—could provide the resilience needed for sustainable prosperity. It’s town of similar sizes and Council areas and it has worked since the 90s.
Yass Valley stands at a pivotal junction. Its decisions today will shape whether it remains a proud, self-reliant NSW community or increasingly aligns with the priorities of its powerful neighbour. Ratepayers, historians, and future generations will be watching closely.
Icon Water (ACT) current water usage charges (2025–26 financial year):
Icon Water uses a two-tiered consumption charge system for residential and most standard customers:
• Tier 1: $2.78 per kilolitre (for the first 50,000 litres / 50 kL per quarter)
• Tier 2: $5.58 per kilolitre (for any usage above 50 kL per quarter)
There is also a fixed water supply charge of $243.47 per year (billed quarterly), which applies regardless of usage.
Key Notes:
• The tier threshold (50 kL per quarter) roughly equates to an average of about 548 litres per day.
• Most average households fall largely into Tier 1.
• Prices increased from the previous year (2024–25: Tier 1 was $2.56/kL and Tier 2 was $5.15/kL).
• These are the regulated standard charges set by the Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and effective from 1 July 2025.
Goldenfields Water bulk supply charge to Hilltops Council (2025–26):
$2.05 per kilolitre (for all consumption under the Non-Residential Bulk Council category).
Details:
• This is the volumetric / consumption charge applied to the bulk water supplied by Goldenfields to Hilltops Council.
• It is charged on all consumption (no tiered structure for this bulk category).
• For comparison: In 2024–25 it was $1.95 per kL, so there has been a modest increase.
Additional Context:
• Hilltops Council pays this bulk rate to Goldenfields and then handles local distribution, reticulation, and billing to end customers in areas like Young.
• There is also a separate access charge for bulk councils: $168.00 per equivalent 20mm connection (annual) in 2025–26.
This bulk rate of $2.05/kL is significantly lower than Icon Water’s Tier 2 residential rate ($5.58/kL) and even below Icon’s Tier 1 rate ($2.78/kL). This highlights the potential cost advantage of staying within NSW regional water schemes versus becoming dependent on ACT/Icon Water supply.
Hilltops Council residential water usage charges (2025–26):
Hilltops Council (covering Young, Boorowa, and Harden) retails water to residents after purchasing it in bulk from Goldenfields Water. Here are the current residential volumetric (usage) charges:
By Town/Area:
• Young: $3.81 per kilolitre (flat rate for all consumption >0 kL)
• Harden: $3.26 per kilolitre (flat rate for all consumption >0 kL)
• Boorowa: Tiered structure
◦ $3.19 per kilolitre for the first 67 kL
◦ $6.41 per kilolitre for usage above 68 kL
These are the consumption/usage charges only. Residents also pay a separate water access (availability) charge based on meter size (typically around $500–$800+ per year for a standard 20mm connection, varying by town).
Key Context:
• Most average households use well under 67–100 kL per quarter, so the higher Boorowa tier rarely applies to typical users.
• These retail rates are significantly higher than Goldenfields’ bulk supply rate to Hilltops Council ($2.05 per kL), as Council adds costs for local distribution, maintenance, and administration.
• Compared to Icon Water (ACT): Hilltops rates are higher than Icon’s Tier 1 ($2.78/kL) in some areas but much lower than Icon’s Tier 2 ($5.58/kL).
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