4 January 2022

Yass residents invited to have their say on town's future

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Main street

The Yass community is invited to have its say on how the main street will look in the future. Photo: Supplied.

The people of Yass are invited to have a say on the future of their town.

People who live in the Yass Valley and are passionate about their community – including improving the main street, parks and reserves – are invited to apply to join the Yass Valley Open Space Strategy Committee and Yass Main Street Masterplan Committee.

Yass Valley Council General Manager Chris Berry said committee members would help play a significant role in making Yass a better place to live and visit.

“Up to five community members will join each committee and don’t require previous committee experience,” Mr Berry said.

“The role will suit anyone who lives in the Yass Valley and is passionate about improving our parks, recreational areas and main street of Yass – from parents and carers to business owners and young people,” he said.

The council has appointed consultants Parkland Planners and Otium to assist with the Yass Valley Open Space Strategy and sala4D to assist with the Yass Main Street Masterplan.

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Mr Berry said members of the Open Space Strategy Committee would have to attend a minimum of two meetings to review the draft strategy and submissions prior to reporting to council. They would be encouraged to provide input on the development of the strategy and help promote it in the broader community.

The goal for committee members would be to ensure that high-quality, accessible open space was evenly distributed across the Yass Valley, meeting both environmental and financial obligations. It would also look at how well such space was connected and that natural, cultural and heritage values were protected.

“The final strategy will establish a framework for the acquisition of new open space assets by council, together with the new level of facilities required,” Mr Berry said.

Members of the Yass Main Street Masterplan Committee will have to attend a minimum of three meetings, including one to discuss preliminary activities, one to review the masterplan and the third to review submissions.

This committee will include representatives of the Yass Valley Business Chamber, Yass and District Historical Society, a resident living with a physical disability who can advise on access issues, two small business owners and two residents.

The committee will look at a wide range of issues to do with the main street from parking and access to where underground utilities like sewer and water pipes are located, where technology like wifi can be incorporated, locations for public art, street furniture and lighting, improvements to Banjo Paterson Park, a water-sensitive landscape and tree plan, increased seating, outdoor dining opportunities and improvements to roundabouts.

Applications for the committees close at 5 pm on 21 January, 2022.

More information is available on the Yass Valley Council’s website.

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