COUNCIL ADOPTS 2023/2024 BUDGET

Georges River Council adopted its 2023/2024 Operational Plan and Delivery Program (budget) at the June Council Meeting.

As the Chair of the Finance & Governance Committee, Councillor Borg put forward an amendment, so that many of the items that were raised by the community in submissions, were funded in the 23/24 budget.

Georges River Council will deliver an operating surplus of $3.4 million in 2023/2024 (the second year in a row Council has delivered an operating surplus). This year’s adopted budget is a win-win for council and the community and strikes a good balance between investing in the essential services of Council (there will be a record investment in roads, footpaths, stormwater and drainage), whilst delivering the services and events our community values.

Council is currently seeking community feedback on two draft Mortdale Master Plan options. You must write your submission to Council before the exhibition period closes on 9 July. Tell Councillors what you want for the future of Mortdale. 

Read full details from Council

See what Save Mortdale Village community group think

Council is implementing a Register of Significant Trees to better recognise and protect our local trees of special significance.

If you think there is a tree worthy of nomination on public land, or on your own private land, nominate it now on Council’s Your Say page before 24 Jul 2023.

Following the nomination closure date, each nomination will be assessed against Council’s significant tree assessment criteria which includes:

• Visual / aesthetic

• Botanic / scientific;

• Ecological;

• Historical;

• Commemorative;

• Cultural; or

• Social significance.

GRRRP Councillors were pleased to support an amendment to the 2023/2024 budget to include $20,000 so that part 2 (the assessment of nominated trees) can be completed and the Significant Tree Register finalised in the 2023/24 financial year.

GRRRP Councillors were pleased to support an amendment to the 2023/2024 budget to include $50,000 for the Natural Heritage and Aboriginal Heritage Assessments of Glenlee. Both assessments are required in order for Heritage NSW to further consider Glenlee for State Heritage Listing.

We eagerly await the Hon Penny Sharpe, Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Heritage to honour her election promise to authorise access to the Glenlee site for the purpose of conducting necessary Aboriginal and natural heritage assessments.

Councillor Peter Mahoney moved a Notice of Motion at the June Council Meeting for Council to again write to the Minister on these matters. Read Notice of Motion.

Great news for library lovers!!!

Council unanimously supported an amendment for the 2023/2024 budget to include $60,000 for the Library Feasibility Study. This follows the resolution from November 2022 for Council to conduct a feasibility study on how to increase visitation to the existing branch libraries at Oatley, Penshurst and South Hurstville by transforming and revitalising these spaces so that they are more flexible for programming, community use and self-service pick up points.

GRRRP COUNCILLORS VOTE AGAINST PAYRISE

At the May Council Meeting, Georges River Council resolved to give Councillors the maximum payrise as determined by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal. GRRRP Councillors voted against this motion. The voting was 8 votes for, 7 votes against, meaning the motion passed. See related Leader article.

At the same meeting, the 8 Councillors who voted for giving Councillors the maximum payrise voted against supporting an elderly pensioner couple by waiving a $7,000 developer contribution fee imposed on them for converting their existing garage to a granny flat so their adult son - who has intellectual disabilities - can transition to living independently.

Teresa Kot wrote an excellent Letter to the Editor summarising the situation.

IN THE NEWS

• St George ref calls time on sports bullies - Coucillor Christina Jamieson submitted a Notice of Motion calling for the council to support anti-bullying, anti-racism, anti-harassment at local sports fields and community facilities by enforcing conditions of use within all hire agreements.

• Why are mangroves suddenly dying? This council thinks it has the answer - Coucillor Peter Mahoney submitted a Notice of Motion for Council to write to the state’s environment, water and agriculture ministers calling for an investigation into the decline of the mangroves that interrogated whether a wastewater overflow from Sydney Water’s Lime Kiln Bay emergency relief structure in February led to their deterioration.

EVENTS & COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

There has been many events that that our GRRRP Councillors have attended in the past few months, including;

• Georges River Citizenship Ceremony

• Uncontained Festival at Kogarah

• Kogarah Bay Progress Association Centenary Celebrations

• Donation drive for Penny's Youth Refuge

• Councillor Mahoney representing Georges River Council on the Georges Riverkeeper

• Councillor Mort at Hurstville Library for Refugee Week

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS

MON 10 JULY (COMMITTEES) | MON 24 JULY (COUNCIL)

Your community councillors for a better Georges River Council. 🏡🌳 #TeamGRRRP. Sign up for updates