Council
29 July, 2026
Yass Valley Council United for Barton Highway State Election Push
Yass Valley Council is turning up the pressure for the full duplication of the Barton Highway and prioritisation of the Murrumbateman bypass ahead of the State election.
Yass Valley Council is turning up the pressure for the full duplication of the Barton Highway and prioritisation of the Murrumbateman bypass ahead of the State election.
At its Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday 25 July, Council unanimously endorsed its advocacy list of priority projects, with the Barton Highway duplication and Yass Hospital renewal topping the list.
Yass Valley Mayor Jasmin Jones calling for action
“Our community has waited long enough - the business case has already been made; it’s time to deliver the finished product - not just the promise.”
Stage two of the Transport for NSW (TfNSW) project has lagged more than two years behind schedule and currently ends at Kaveneys Road, with no new funding announced for construction.
“Every year of delay only sees the price tag rise, which means less kilometres delivered and lives lost on a highway that claims double those of its counterparts across the country.”
Council is pushing for new funding to duplicate the highway to Murrumbateman and complete the bypass for a district rapidly on its way to a population of 10,000 residents, alongside the delivery of stage 2 works to Gooda Creek as promised.
Mayor Jones described the Barton Highway as a critical artery for southern Australia and the Capital Region
“The Barton is an economic engine for the Riverina, Adelaide, and Victoria, along with the obvious gateway to Canberra and the Capital Region for Yass Valley communities and our cool climate wine region tourism economy, likewise for Harden, Boorowa, Young and Cowra.
Mayor Jones emphasised the project requires renewed commitment from both the State and Federal Governments to jointly prioritise funding for the safety of regional communities and economies.
“Despite hosting 3 federal highways, two state roads and five regional roads pulsing with freight and people through our shire, we are yet to see Yass formally recognised as a Strategic Centre in the NSW Transport Plan. Council is pushing back hard on this."
NSW Infrastructure's 2019 Barton Highway Business Case indicated that the highway's single-lane carriageway was already at capacity, with traffic across the border expected to increase from 13,000 to more than21,000 vehicle movements by 2037.
Despite this, the bypass project has fallen to 31st in planning priority and 58th in delivery priority among 60 TfNSW Strategic Regional priorities. The actual delivery of the Barton Highway duplication doesn’t rate at all in the current NSW South East & Tablelands Strategic Transport plan.
As a long time Murrumbateman resident, Yass Valley Deputy Mayor Councillor Kristin Butler described the Barton Highway as part of her family’s daily life, along with more than 13,000 other vehicles every day.
“Duplication was announced in 2017. Nine years on, we have seven kilometres finished and Stage 2 still in planning. At that rate my grandchildren will cut the ribbon on the last stage.
We now have a primary school on the highway with no crossing and no lights. We’ve lost people on this road. Every delay accepts that risk for another year.
We need this funded for safety and for the vital connectivity route it provides for an expanding Yass Valley/Canberra partnership.”
Chair of Council’s Economic Advisory Development Committee Councillor Alvaro Charry stressed the importance of the Barton Highway as the economic lifeline of the Yass Valley.
“It supports our tourism industry, our local businesses, our freight network, and our workforce. Continued investment in its duplication is essential if our region is to realise its full economic potential. I commend Yass Valley Council’s continued advocacy and urge both the State and Federal Governments to reignite momentum on this vital infrastructure project.
Yass Valley Council Chief Executive Officer Gayleen Burley also raised the issue of regional and national resilience
“The Barton Highway also serves NSW as an alternate route in the emergency management of the Hume Highway traffic during dual carriageway incidents that combines concerning volumes of heavy haulage traffic on the Barton Highway.”
“Our Community and Council have sent a consistent message that it is time to recognise the substantial business case and finalise this project to support our growing regional population.”
Yass Valley Council will continue to work with community and peak road safety industry bodies to advocate for the full duplication of the Barton Highway and delivery of the Murrumbateman bypass.
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