Yass Valley Council Mayor Jasmin Jones has spoken about what the year could look like for Council in the upcoming year and what these things mean for Yass residents.
She said, “Your Council is focused on long-term financial sustainability. We started 2026 with a strategic workshop into strategic property management, to ensure we fully understand the opportunities and issues of the land entrusted to our management on behalf of our community.
Preparations for the 2026-27 budget framework are also already underway.
“Councillors have been encouraged to consider pulling every lever to achieve financial sustainability, and our Financial Road Map provides clear signposts to check our progress against.
“I am pleased to share that the Auditor General recently issued Yass Valley Council with the two blue ticks possible for our ‘unmodified’ audit report – the highest marks possible for accuracy and timeliness.
“Our committees will fire up again this year, which also brings an exciting field of knowledgeable, talented and passionate community members to add their voice in advising Council.
“I am also looking forward to our new dynamic community engagement platform, Your Voice Counts (YVC), providing Council with a deeper understanding of community feedback.
Listening is a big part of our planning processes. Our leadership team is also looking into further ways to communicate with our residents quickly and effectively, such as opt-in text message alerts.
“We’ll also soon be heading out to our village communities and Yass Soldiers’ Memorial Hall for direct community consultation on several policies and strategies. Please check in regularly on all our channels for announcements – website, social media, news releases and mayoral messages, plus keep an eye out for our announcements in the local paper and village newsletters.
“I am excited about the opportunities that Council is exploring to collaborate on environmental improvements.
Thank you, Landcare, Friends of Yass Gorge, Ginninderry Conservation Trust, the Onerwal Local Aboriginal Land Council and our local Elders for your continued energy and focus as we share the challenges and opportunities to care for country and walk together.
Council joins a renewed community focus committed to improving the health of the Yass River and surrounding catchment.
“This precinct, including our new library and Emergency Command Centre, represents a generational investment in our business and safety infrastructure. Final touches are underway with a move of the team (and the library books!) into the buildings by the end of February. I am also particularly excited to see our local Elders provide design input for the yarning circle at the Crago Mill Precinct, and lead with hands-on help choosing and planting the native shrubs and grasses within the Crago Mill Precinct.
“I’m looking forward to taking the Yass Valley Business Chamber and Local Emergency Management Commander, Inspector Dave Cowell, for a tour of the Crago Mill precinct as we work towards completion – tracking less than 6 months out from the original finish date and less than 10% variation in cost.
“Both the new administration building, as the Local Emergency Command Centre in times of natural disaster and climatic events, and the new library, with its varied and dynamic technology-connected meeting spaces, provides many opportunities for local businesses to access from a neutral space.
Whether it is for job interviews or team meetings, to bringing in live speakers from anywhere in the world to elevate our local training, or in reverse, sharing our local talented skills internationally.
“Got a good idea, need some help connecting the dots to get something done in your neighbourhood, or want to introduce your community groups vision to the Mayor and Deputy? Please book in for Mornings with the Mayor and Deputy – keep an eye out for details of the next one planned for March.
“Don’t miss the opportunity to see how much the Marchmont Trust have transformed the racecourse and surrounds at The Yass Picnic Races on the 28th of February.
“We have an exciting Seniors Activity Program planned for March, and preparations are already underway for April’s Anzac Day events.
2026 will no doubt present us with both challenges and opportunities, but I have never failed to see Yass Valley residents rise to the task with resilience, compassion and the utmost good humour.”
– Jack Murray
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