Yass Valley Council facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yass Valley New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Population	16,142 (2016 census) 16,953 (2018 est.)
• Density	4.0365/km2 (10.454/sq mi)
Established	11 February 2004
Area	3,999 km2 (1,544.0 sq mi)
Mayor	Allan McGrath
Council seat	Yass
Region	Southern Tablelands
State electorate(s)	Goulburn
Federal Division(s)	Eden-Monaro
Website	Yass Valley
LGAs around Yass Valley: Hilltops Hilltops Upper Lachlan Cootamundra-Gundagai Yass Valley Goulburn Snowy Valleys ACT Queanbeyan-Palerang

The Yass Valley Council is a special area in New South Wales, Australia. It's like a local government team that helps manage the towns and communities there. This area is in the Southern Tablelands region.

You can find the Yass Valley near important roads like the Hume Highway and Barton Highway. It's also close to the main railway line that goes through the south of New South Wales.

Exploring Yass Valley: Towns and Localities

The Yass Valley area includes several towns and many smaller rural and residential spots. These places are all part of the Yass Valley Council's responsibility.

Main Towns in Yass Valley

Here are some of the towns you'll find in the Yass Valley:

Smaller Localities in Yass Valley

The Yass Valley also has many smaller areas known as localities:

How Yass Valley Council Started

The Yass Valley Council was officially formed on February 11, 2004. Before that, the area was managed by different councils.

First, the Yass Shire was created on January 1, 1980. This happened when two older areas, Goodradigbee Shire and the Municipality of Yass, joined together. Later, Yass Shire itself combined with parts of other shires, like Gunning Shire and Yarrowlumla Shire, to form the Yass Valley Council we know today.

Who Leads Yass Valley?

The person in charge of the Yass Valley Council is called the mayor. The current mayor is Cr. Allan McGrath.

Understanding the People of Yass Valley

Knowing about the people who live in Yass Valley helps us understand the community. This information comes from a big survey called the census.

Population Growth

In 2016, about 16,142 people lived in Yass Valley. This number has been growing! In 2011, there were 15,020 people, and in 2006, there were 13,135. This shows that more and more people are choosing to live in the Yass Valley area.

Diversity in Yass Valley

Most people in Yass Valley were born in Australia (about 82.8%). Other people came from places like England and New Zealand. English is the main language spoken at home. A small number of people also speak other languages like Croatian, German, and Dutch.

How the Council Works

The Yass Valley Council has nine councillors. These councillors are chosen by the people who live in the Yass Valley area. They are elected for a four-year term.

Choosing the Council Members

All nine councillors are elected at the same time. After they are elected, the councillors then choose one of themselves to be the mayor. The most recent election for the council was held on December 4, 2021.

Current Council Members

All the current councillors are Independents. This means they don't belong to a major political party.

• Allan McGrath (Mayor)
• Jasmine Jones (Deputy Mayor)
• Adrian Cameron
• Cayla Pothan
• Cecil Burgess
• Jim Abbey
• Kim Turner
• Kristen Butler
• Mike Reid

Getting Around Yass Valley: Transport

The Yass Valley has several important ways for people and goods to travel.

• Hume Highway: This is a major national highway that connects different parts of Australia.
• Barton Highway: Another important national highway that helps people travel to and from the area.
• Lachlan Valley Way: A state route that connects different towns within the region.
• Main Southern Railway: A railway line used by NSW TrainLink for passenger and freight trains.
• Transborder Express: A local company that provides bus and coach services for people in the area.