Exciting progress for the Carss Park Aquatic Centre!

There was an important next step in the construction of a new aquatic centre at Carss Park when Council resolved to negotiate and execute a project agreement with the NSW Office of Sport for the construction of the pool.

Council has completed the demolition and remediation of the site — the land is ready for the next stage. In addition, Council has committed $10m towards the capital cost of construction of the pool.

We thank the State Government for their investment in this much-loved, much-needed community facility and Council remains fully committed to working in partnership with the NSW Office of Sport to negotiate and execute the Project Agreement so that the next stage of the project can commence as soon as possible.

We welcome the news recently announced that a re-elected Federal Labor Government will match Council’s contribution and put $10m towards the rebuilding of the Carss Park Pool. 

NSW State HDA approves Mortdale RSL Development

Last week we learnt via the SMH, that the State Government’s Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) has approved a development at 25 Macquarie Pl, Mortdale (Mortdale RSL site) for 175 dwellings.

Council has not been notified of the details of this proposal, however, a proposal for a similar number of dwellings (approx 13 storeys) was in the past rejected by Council’s expert planners, rejected by the Local Planning Panel and rejected by the Strategic Planning Panel of the Sydney South Planning Panel (SSPP) who stated it lacked both strategic and site specific merit.

GRRRP has always supported the State Government's goal of delivering more well-located, well-designed homes in Georges River. On face value, we’re uncertain if this will meet this objective but in fairness we will reserve judgement until the proposal is made public.

Council considered the Beverly Hills Master Plan following the completion of technical studies into the Moomba to Sydney Ethane (MSE) Pipeline Hazard Analysis, and Flood Impact Risk Assessment. 

The result of these technical studies has resulted in a reshaping of the Beverly Hills Master Plan, with no increase in residential densities recommended in affected areas.

You can view the full report to the 10th February Environment and Planning Committee (page 26).

The reshaped Master Plan will now be placed on public exhibition between June and July 2025, so the community is informed of the changes and the reasons for those changes.

The Donnelly Park Master Plan and Plan of Management (POM) was adopted by Council, with amendments following community feedback. 

The Master Plan and POM will now be forwarded to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) – NSW Crown Lands for information and be placed on Council’s website.

Read the report here (page 10).

The Donnelly Park Foreshore Protection and Environmental Enhancement Project, a key initiative of the Master Plan, officially launched this week with a special sod-turning ceremony! This project is dedicated to safeguarding our foreshore, strengthening environmental resilience, and enhancing community accessibility.

The NSW Government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing (LMH) Policy Stage 2 rolled out on 28 February 2025, aiming to increase housing diversity with more villas, townhouses, terraces, and dual occupancies. Here’s a summary of the changes.

In July 2024, Council submitted a plan for 8,245 new homes, balancing housing needs with protection for heritage and biodiversity areas. This plan depended on a deferral from the LMH policy, which has not been granted.

It appears that the final LMH policy for Georges River is a scaled-back version, focusing on Hurstville, Mortdale, Oatley, Penshurst, and Riverwood stations, plus Kogarah.

At Monday’s Council meeting, a Mayoral Minute from Mayor Elise Borg passed unanimously, requesting a report on how the new LMH Policy will affect our community.

🐾 Responsible pet ownership matters! 🐱🌿 Thanks to the support of Councillors in the previous term, a $50,000 operational budget bid in the 2025/2026 budget is making this vital program possible. This isn’t just ‘business as usual’—it’s a proactive step by Georges River Council to support responsible cat ownership and protect our native wildlife. 💚 LIMITED VOUCHERS AVAILABLE.

GRRRP Councillors supported the inclusion of this program in the 2025/2026 budget.

Find out more on Council’s website.

GEORGES RIVERKEEPER EXECUTIVE

Our very own Councillor Matt Alison has been elected to the Georges Riverkeeper Executive for 2025 as Treasurer representing Georges River Council. He replaces dedicated Councillor Peter Mahoney who remains on the committee.

The diverse team for 2025 ensures a strong commitment to collaboration between member councils, Sydney Water, community representatives, and other key stakeholders to ensure the ongoing preservation of this vital waterway.

Read more details here.

CURRENT CONSULTATIONS AT GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL

• Share your experiences of Park Road and Jubilee Avenue Princes Highway intersections

• Help Shape the Future of Beverley Park (Golf Course)

From TeamGRRRP - Elise Borg, Peter Mahoney, Natalie Mort, Christina Jamieson & Matt Allison

TeamGRRRP Delivers Positive Change to Council. 🏡🌳

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