17 April 2024 – Yass Valley Council Murrumbateman Playground Project Committee Meeting
Our MPA representative on this Committee attended this meeting and discussed the results of the MCA community survey and cost benefit analysis which indicated that the Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds was the preferred site for the Category 1 Playground. This was also the recommendation of the Council’s Playground consultant. However, the Committee resolved to recommend the Old Schoolhouse site to Council as the preferred site. Playground concept plans are now on the Yass Valley Council website – refer 11 July 2024 Playground Committee agenda. We understand that there will be a Council-run formal consultation process after the Committee has considered these plans.
23 April 2024 – Extraordinary meeting of the Yass Valley Council Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds Focus Group
This meeting was called by Council to discuss the potential of placing the playground at the Recreation Grounds as detailed in the Consultant’s report. The Focus Group determined that if the Murrumbateman Recreation Ground is the preferred location further consultation with the user groups be undertaken.
8 & 27 May 2024 – Drought Resilience Stakeholder Reference Group
In response to environmental challenges, Yass Valley is working on the development of a Regional Drought Resilience plan alongside Queanbeyan-Palerang and Snowy-Monaro.
A Regional Drought Resilience Plan aims to identify innovative approaches to address the impacts of drought to ensure our communities are well equipped to face the challenges drought and climate vulnerability can bring.
This Program is a collaborative effort between the Commonwealth Government’s Future Drought Fund and the NSW Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
One of our MCA Executive members attended these workshops to provide input into the development of the plan.
23 May 2024 – Yass Valley Council Meeting
MCA made a written statement to the Ordinary Council Meeting 23 May 2024 on Item 6.1 MURRUMBATEMAN PLAYGROUND – SITE DETERMINATION – you can view the statement here. At this meeting, Yass Valley Council decided that the Old Schoolhouse will be the new playground site. While this wasn’t MCA’s recommendation, we fully support a new playground for Murrumbateman and look forward to its completion. However, we are concerned about Council statements that this will not be a Category 1 Playground as promised in Council’s 2022-2026 Delivery Program and we will continue to campaign for this promise to be honoured and for the historic Schoolhouse to be restored as part of this project.
6 June 2024 – Yass Valley Council Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds Focus Group
MCA and other user groups participated in a Council Focus Group on 6 June to update and identify future priorities for the list of actions in the 2021 Recreation Grounds Strategy Plan. The Dog Park is now complete but unfortunately the Amenities building has been delayed – latest advice from Council is that it is expected to open in August/September. Fencing along part of the boundary of the north equestrian area, to fence off the creek and enhance safety, has been installed with funds from the Murrumbateman Adult Riders Club and Council.
The inclusion of an item to address maintenance of grounds and existing building assets was also requested. Good news is that Council has permission to use left over grant funds to install a new toilet block and to spray seal the ring road and parking areas.
18 June 2024 – Meeting of Yass Valley region Progress Associations
Two MCA executive members attended this informal meeting of all village and town progress associations including Bowning, Binalong, Sutton and Gundaroo (Bookham & Wee Jasper sent their apologies). It was an extremely productive meeting and it was lovely to connect with so many community-focused volunteers across the region and to share solutions to common challenges. We have planned another meeting in September.
11 July 2024 -Yass Valley Council Murrumbateman Playground Project Committee meeting
Our MCA representative on this Committee attended this meeting to look at concept designs for the playground. The Committee have made some suggestions to the consultant on the proposed designs. We expect a new design to be developed which will then be put out for public consultation.
