Council
20 July, 2026
Canberra Yass Parkwood battle heats up
Yass Valley Council is continuing its fight to retain Parkwood within New South Wales. The ACT Government is refusing to enter into the provision of cross-border services to Parkwood and says a border adjustment is the “most equitable and sustainable pathway to support the provision new homes in Parkwood”.
Yass Valley Council is continuing its fight to retain Parkwood within New South Wales.
The ACT Government is refusing to enter into the provision of cross-border services to Parkwood and says a border adjustment is the “most equitable and sustainable pathway to support the provision new homes in Parkwood”.
However, with a financial windfall expected from 5620 new homes Yass Valley Council is refusing to budge.
One Yass councillor has described the “escalation in tone” from ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr on the issue as disappointing.
In a recent letter to NSW Premier Chris Minns, Chief Minister Barr accused Yass Valley Council of ‘departing from its existing public position which supported a border adjustment for Parkwood’.
He said the supply of water via the ACT to any locations in the Yass Valley – including growth areas in Yass, Murrumbateman and Bungendore – “would now be conditional on the ACT-NSW border being adjusted to incorporate Parkwood into the Australian Capital Territory”.
Councillor Alvaro Charry said the comments deserved closer public scrutiny.
“What concerns me is the suggestion that Yass Valley Council has ‘departed from its existing public position’ supporting a border adjustment,” Cr Charry said.
“Our CEO has confirmed that there is no resolution, adopted policy or strategic document which establishes that as the official position of Yass Valley Council.”
Cr Charry described Chief Minister Barr’s threat in relation to water access as “a very disappointing development”.
“It is no secret that water security is one of the most critical long-term challenges facing regional NSW,” Cr Charry said.
“It is too important an issue to become entangled in broader territorial negotiations or political leverage.
“This matter now impacts issues well beyond the future of Parkwood itself.
“It raises broader concerns about how neighbouring NSW LGAs engage with the ACT government on critical topics such as water security, infrastructure planning and the long-term interests of local residents.”
Yass mayor Jasmin Jones has been lobbying for Parkwood to remain in the Yass Valley and recently met with NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson and senior government officials to discuss the issue.
In a letter to Premier Minns, she said financial modelling conducted by the AEC Group “has demonstrated that retaining Parkwood within the Yass Valley provides a net financial benefit to both our council and the broader NSW economy”
“Council resolved at the May meeting to reaffirm its formal position: Parkwood should be kept within NSW to protect the long-term interests of Yass Valley residents.
“Council remains committed to the current border and opposes any proposal from the ACT Government to acquire this land, particularly without any recognition or compensation for loss of revenue to NSW and Yass Valley governments respectively, and in perpetuity.”
While the only access to Parkwood is currently via the ACT, Mayor Jones said the construction of a bridge over Ginninderra Creek could “elegantly overcome the NSW access constraints currently limiting some service delivery and open a possible future growth corridor into the Yass Valley”.
“While we value constructive relationships with our neighbours, our priority is ensuring the growth and revenue generated by Parkwood stay within New South Wales,” the Mayor said.
Chief Minister Barr said commentary around the construction of a bridge over Ginninderra Creek had “impacted the ACT Government’s confidence that any cross-border supply of water would be supported by a shared vision on sustainable regional growth and has prompted a recalibration of the Territory’s interests”.
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