Yass Valley Council is a local government area in the Southern Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is located adjacent to the Hume and Barton Highways and the Main Southern railway line.

Yass Valley
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates34°51′S 148°55′E / 34.850°S 148.917°E / -34.850; 148.917
Population
 • Density4.0365/km2 (10.4545/sq mi)
Established11 February 2004
Area3,999 km2 (1,544.0 sq mi)
MayorAllan McGrath
Council seatYass[3]
RegionSouthern Tablelands
State electorate(s)Goulburn
Federal division(s)Eden-Monaro
WebsiteYass Valley
LGAs around Yass Valley:
Hilltops Hilltops Upper Lachlan
Cootamundra-Gundagai Yass Valley Goulburn
Snowy Valleys ACT Queanbeyan-Palerang

The Shire includes the towns, and extensive rural and residential areas of:

It also includes the localities of:

The Yass Shire was proclaimed on 1 January 1980 following the amalgamation of Goodradigbee Shire and the Municipality of Yass. Yass Shire in turn was dissolved and merged into the Yass Valley Council on 11 February 2004, following a further amalgamation of Yass Shire and parts of Gunning and Yarrowlumla Shires.

The mayor of Yass Valley Council is Cr. Allan McGrath.

Demographics edit

At the 2016 census, Yass Valley had a population of 16,142, 7,931 males and 8,209 females.[1] It had grown from 15,020 at the 2011 census,[4] an increase of 7.5%. In the previous five years it grew by 14.4% from 13,135 at the 2006 census.[5] There were 400 people (2.5%) who identified as being of Indigenous origin in the 2016 census. The median age was 42 years.[1]

82.8% of the population was born in Australia. 3.6% were born in England, 1.2% in New Zealand and 0.4% in each of Germany, the United States and Netherlands. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 14,550 people (90.2%). The three most common languages spoken at home other than English were Croatian (0.4%), German (0.4%) and Dutch (0.2%). 84.3% of households had at least one resident who accessed the internet by any type of electronic device.

The median weekly individual income for people aged 15 years and over at the 2016 census was $869 (Australian average: $662). The median weekly family was $2,214 (Australian average: $1,734) and the median household family was $1,879 (Australian average: $1,438).

In the 2016 census, there were 5,185 separate houses (94.0%), 216 semi detached, row or terrace houses and townhouses (3.9%), 27 flats, units or apartments (0.5%) and 37 other dwellings (0.7%). Of all occupied private dwellings, 4,343 were either fully owned or being purchased, which represents (78.6%) of all occupied private dwellings, while 1,011 (18.3%) were being rented.[1]

Selected historical census data for Yass Valley local government area
Census year 2006[5] 2011[4] 2016[1]
Population Estimated residents on census night 13,135   15,020   16,142
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales 73rd   74th
% of New South Wales population
% of Australian population
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses
English
Australian 82.8%
Italian
Chinese
Irish
Language,
top responses
(other than English)
Italian
Mandarin
Cantonese
Korean
Greek
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses
Catholic
No religion
Anglican
Eastern Orthodox
Buddhism
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income A$ A$869
% of Australian median income 131.3%
Family income Median weekly family income A$2,214
% of Australian median income 127.7%
Household income Median weekly household income A$1,879
% of Australian median income 130.7%

Council edit

Current composition and election method edit

Yass Valley Council is composed of nine councillors elected proportionally as one entire ward. All councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is elected by the councillors at the first meeting of the council. The most recent election was held on 4 December 2021, and the makeup of the council is as follows:[6]

Party Councillors
  Independents and Unaligned 9
Total 9

The current Council, elected in 2016, in order of election, is:[6]

Councillor Party Notes
  Allan McGrath Mayor[7]
  Jasmine Jones Deputy Mayor
  Adrian Cameron Greens
  Cayla Pothan
  Cecil Burgess
  Jim Abbey
  Kim Turner
  Kristen Butler
  Mike Reid

Transport facilities edit

Yass Valley is serviced by the following transport facilities:

  • Hume Highway (National Highway 31)
  • Barton Highway (National Highway 25)
  • Lachlan Valley Way (State Route 81)
  • Main Southern Railway (NSW TrainLink)
  • Transborder Express (A local bus & coach firm)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Yass Valley (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 July 2017.  
  2. ^ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017–18". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019. Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.
  3. ^ "Yass Valley Council". Department of Local Government. Retrieved 12 November 2006.
  4. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Yass Valley (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 July 2017.  
  5. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Yass Valley (A)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Yass Valley Council: Summary of First Preference Votes for each Candidate". Local Government Elections 2016. Electoral Commission of New South Wales. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  7. ^ Cole, Jessica (28 September 2016). "Rowena Abbey voted Mayor with Deputy Mayor". Yass Tribune. Retrieved 21 October 2016.