Yass Valley Council is one of eight projects across regional, rural and remote Australia that will share in $45 million in funding for the redevelopment of the Crago Mill Cultural Precinct.
The $400 million program has been designed to support projects to drive local jobs, increase economic growth and encourage resilient regional communities.
Successful applications were picked from Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia, NSW and the Northern Territory.
$10 million dollars will be contributed towards the $45 million project by the Albanese Government to renew the site as a cultural and civic hub.
The major development will occur in the centre of Yass and promises to “bring together council services, a modern library, flexible community and business facilities, and an emergency management centre in one accessible location.”
The project has drawn controversy from day one with a large loan and an interest rate potentially signalling a rate rise for residents. However, financial pressures will now have been eased in the short term, though the full cost for the new facility will not be known until the loan has been paid down.
Stage 1 of the precinct redevelopment is almost done, and includes the new administration building, emergency operations centre and library.
Funding for Stage 2 will look towards rehabilitating the Crago Mill building for use, which will feature a café, a yarning circle and cultural artworks/storytelling displays.
Some may be asking is the use of $10 million on a dilapidated and small sized building worth preserving or should it be bowled over and the money spent on incorporating more indigenous inclusions as well as new facilities in a more expansive way make better sense. Does sending money towards a crumbling and aged building make sense? Time will tell on that also.
Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain MP, said the funding will help preserve the historic mill as an “enduring community asset by creating culturally significant spaces, artworks, storytelling displays and a yarning circle.”
“This will be a welcoming place for community connection, supporting local business, tourism and
economic activity,” she said.
“We are supporting projects like this across regional Australia to boost opportunities and liveability by revitalising community assets and underused spaces.”
Yass Valley Mayor, Jasmin Jones, said the investment is a welcome and much needed boost for the precinct and for the Yass Valley community.
“It protects the value of the work already delivered, gets Stage 2 moving again and, alongside Council’s revised scope and efficiencies, helps reduce the anticipated project cost to our community from around $50 million to $35 million,” she said.
“That is significant support for Council’s financial sustainability and means we can move forward with confidence on a project that will create lasting cultural, economic and community benefits.
“Importantly, this is much more than a building project, it is a true partnership. Council together with the Onerwal Local Aboriginal Land Council, our Emergency Services, the Yass Valley Business Chamber and our broader community, we are creating a precinct that celebrates our Ngunnawal and agricultural heritage, strengthens our resilience in times of emergency and creates new opportunities for investment, connection and activation of our main street and central business district.
“I thank the Australian Government and all our partners for helping us reach this point. We have an opportunity to build something our community can be proud of for generations to come. The best part is we will do it together, and that is a blessing beyond measure.”
Marcayla Stopp, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Onerwal Local Aboriginal Land Council said the precinct presents an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the deep cultural heritage of First Nations people within the Yass Valley region.
“By incorporating Ngunnawal perspectives, stories and knowledge into the precinct, we can create a meaningful place for cultural learning, truth-telling and reconciliation, while ensuring the history of this land is respected and shared with the wider community,” she said.
Yass Valley Business Chamber President, Jack Walker, called the funding a “significant win” as a physical demonstration of the power in collaboration between Council, business, community and government.
“Securing substantial external funding is an important step in reducing the financial burden on local ratepayers while progressing a project that is an important civic, community and business hub for Yass Valley,” he said.
“This investment reinforces Yass not only as the civic but also the economic centre of our LGA.
“Strengthening the heart of Yass Valley supports business activity, jobs, investment and services across the wider region, while recognising the increasingly strategic role Yass has to play within the broader Capital Region and its sustainable future growth.”
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.