Page 1 YASS VALLEY TIMES WEDNESDAY May 26, 2021 $2.00 Water Bills could soar to pay for drinkable water Despite holding claim to the second most expensive and comfortably the most complained about water of council areas categorised as 'medium-sized' within NSW, Yass Valley water could be about to become even more expensive. Yass Valley Council will tonight be presented with information stating an increase of $260 per year to Typical Residential Bills will be required to pay for the construction of an upgraded water treatment plant if they fail to receive further government subsidies. Households in Yass Valley paid $3.40 per kL of water used in 2019/20 which is well above the median of $2.22/kL in the medium category of 19 Councils with Walgett holding the cheapest at $0.90 and Tenterfield the most expensive at $3.80. The project cost is estimated now to total $33.2 million, with the Council's water operations still holding an outstanding loan of $11.954 million as of June 2020, due to the raising of the Yass Dam Wall project of 2013, which also received no government subsidy. For those that can recall, the Dam Wall project's repayments were considered hefty at the time at $205.67 per year for each household and was the highest loan repayment in medium category water operations in the state. The financial modelling, requested by Councillors shows upgrading the water treatment plant with no assis- Yass River water loaded with organics triggered a 'Boil Water Alert' in 2020. tance would outdo that by $54 per Dam wall overtopping - Photo credit GS Aerial Imaging household. Continued page 2. 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Step out onto the Alfresco decking that will draw Energy efficiency with solar, rain water tanks and a than 200 meters to CBD, close to Medical Practice, Renovated galley style kitchen, opens to dining and lounge. you outdoors at every opportunity. Central gas heating, double garage with internal access. Hospital & river walk. Stand alone unit with great street Renovated bathroom, double detached garage, licensed bore RCAC, double garage with views out over Yass. Evaporative cooling and central ducted heating. appeal. Open plan living with central kitchen. with pressure pump. Three paddocks, two dams. Page 2 YASS VALLEY TIMES WEDNESDAY May 26, 2021 From The Front Above: Edwina Hagan inside her home the ‘Rose Inn’ which is the oldest home in YassTown,circa 1837. Edwina experienced dirty water and wrote to the Editor calling for change. Children at Banjo Paterson Park in Yass use the public bubbler to cool off. Yass treatment plant failed to deliver safe drinking water due to floodwaters in 2020 triggering a week of Boil Water Alerts. Tough decisions. Water prices were hiked to achieve water security in Yass Valley without federal or state grants. (Right) Former Mayor Nic Carmody attending the 2013 official opening of the Dam Wall Upgrade which kept severe water restrictions at bay in years to follow. A typical residential bill for 2021-22 with no and the Department of Planning and subsidy would hit $1,440 an increase of Infrastructure over its initial dismissal that $260 per year (22%) to service a new Yass needs a more complex treatment 22-million-dollar loan. system than currently funded by the State Government. The report states ‘…the combination of very high water bills and poor quality of water will Are you willing to accept the rate increase if make it painful to the households. It is it means issues with Yass Valley water are necessary to seek the highest amount of corrected? Or are you okay with the water in government subsidy.’ its current state if it means further rate rises can be avoided? Council is undertaking a peer review with the results of this yet to be finalised and Let us hear your opinion in writing to made public. It's hoped the peer review will [email protected] break the stalemate between the Council Max O’Driscoll Page 3 YASS VALLEY TIMES WEDNESDAY May 26, 2021 Berinba Public School 50 Year Committee Call-out community to join a committee to help got such a wide range of kids in our plan the celebrations. school who are all of different abilities The committee will be responsible and all different areas of the for creating events and fundraising for community,” she said. the school throughout 2022, and Experience with events of a larger Secretary Clare Silvestro says magnitude and an understanding of celebration plans are very much a the culture at Berinba are desired by blank canvas at the minute. the P&C group. “There’s not really much in the works “Somebody who has been in charge at the moment; we’re just looking at of organising a school fete or other big getting a committee together to try and events would be great because I’m not organise all of the events for next sure any of us P&C people have done year, and we don’t know what events something that large before, so it’d be there will be, but there was talk about good to get some experience in that doing a school fete.” respect.” “We’re just looking for people to be a “People who’ve had some part of the committee, and then we association with the school would be Could you help the Berinba Raphael has fun on the mechanical can go from there,” she said. fantastic,” she said. There are some committee create a special 50th bucking bull, one of the many The celebration is as much about ideas in the works already, but people event? activities at the event. the 50th anniversary as it is a with fresh ideas and wanting to help Sam & Rebecca Furphy with their Berinba from above. celebration of just how far the school share the load for the current team are children Orlando, Alexander & Berinba Public School will next year has come. being encouraged to register their Raphael enjoying Berinba's celebrate its 50th anniversary and is “Berinba is a very inclusive school, interest via [email protected] Welcome BBQ earlier this year. putting a call out for members of the we’re the only school in Yass that has an enriched learning area, and we’ve Max O’Driscoll of lifting a water meter box lid, opening the lid of the recently leaving my meter lids open and a walk Letter to the Editor water meter, taking the reading as displayed and around of 20 other meters showed all were left open Dear Editor, closing both lids. also. Your paper, the recent Yass Valley Council's Mayoral Message flyer and the general messaging This task seems too difficult for Council as such the The point to be made is that Council needs to get from Council is that they are on the ball and doing a water meter numbers get covered with muck, debris the basics right before attempting more challenging great job. falls into the box and we ratepayers have to suffer tasks and as a couple out of left field, how many From my experience if you can't get the basics right inaccurate readings, incorrect bills and lids left resources and how much money are we spending, then the more complicated becomes impossible. crooked. budgeting for or have spent in 2120 / 2021 on our sister city in China and why has Council not spruked By example, I wrote to Councillors again today Our Council, rather than action procedures upon my about replacing the same wooden bridge in about Council leaving meter lids and meter box lids complaints has used ratepayer resources to explain Binalong twice. Need I go on, improvement is open each and every time and each and every that I don't know what I am talking about and that needed. meter that I have. I wrote about how I have there is no problem, time and time again. written over 15 letters over two decades and how Your ever vigilant ratepayer Council has been unable to perform the simple task Nothing has changed,Council has read meters Touie Smith snr www.yassrealestate.com.au YASS REAL ESTATE “Working Harder For You” 26 Hume Street, Yass 87 Rossi Street, Yass • Unique family residence flawlessly combining old world • Charming three bedroom home situated on the charm, modern touches and tasteful updates to period Canberra side of Yass close to schools and the • Formal entry and formal living with bay window and main street. ornate fireplace • Spacious formal living and dining opening • Open plan kitchen with gas cooktop & dishwasher NEW LISTING overlooking light and airy informal living onto a sunny deck overlooking the rear garden.