The July Council meeting had a full agenda. You can watch the full meeting broadcast or view the meeting minutes on Councils website.

Mayoral Minute: Supporting Council Sustainability

Local councils are under increasing financial pressure, with new research from Local Government NSW revealing that cost shifting onto councils has reached $1.5 billion — nearly $500 per ratepayer.

At this week’s Georges River Council meeting, Mayor Borg tabled a Mayoral Minute acknowledging these findings, and thanking the NSW Government for progressing important reforms to support local government financial sustainability.

We welcome these steps and look forward to continued collaboration to deliver real benefits for our community.

Read the LGNSW Report here: www.lgnsw.org.au/costshifting

Proud to Stand for Pokies Reform

Councillor Peter Mahoney was proud to second Councillor Kathryn Landsberry's motion to join Wesley Mission's 'Put Pokies in Their Place' campaign — making Georges River Council the first council in NSW to do so.

The campaign calls for practical reforms like:

• Universal cashless gambling with harm reduction features

• Powering down pokies from midnight to 10am

• Reducing machine numbers

Georges River is the 19th largest LGA by population but ranks 7th in NSW for pokie losses, with $5 million lost every week.  That’s not just money - it’s lives, families, and futures.

If we can educate even one individual, save a marriage or even a life, this motion will have been a complete success.

We’re pleased to report a major win for our waterways. In June, the NSW Government backed down on its plan to shift the cost of the Beachwatch program to local councils, instead committing to fund it under the current model for another two years.

This follows strong advocacy led by Councillor Peter Mahoney, whose earlier motion urging continued funding was echoed by other Georges Riverkeeper councils.

At the July Council Meeting, Councillor Mahoney followed up with a new motion thanking the NSW Government for extending the program and calling on them to make the current funding model permanent—ensuring water safety at 94 swimming sites, including three in Georges River, at no cost to councils.

Councillor Christina Jamieson is continuing her advocacy for improved parking in Mortdale Village. At the July Council Meeting, she put forward a motion reaffirming Council’s commitment to addressing parking concerns raised during the Mortdale Masterplan consultation.

Her motion called for clearer communication with the community about the actions taken so far, including short-term improvements that delivered six new timed spaces. It also requested an update on long-term solutions, such as potential angled parking on nearby streets which could add 27 more spaces—pending further consultation and approvals.

Council staff will now review current enforcement of 1-hour and 3-hour parking zones and report back on their effectiveness in improving turnover and supporting local businesses.

Smarter Tree Planting to Grow Our Canopy

Councillor Matt Allison is championing more cost-effective ways to grow our tree canopy and stretch Council’s $150,000 tree planting budget further.

At the July Council Meeting, he proposed a trial program for planting locally native tubestock instead of traditional large potted trees. Tubestock is cheaper, easier to plant, grows quickly, and is better adapted to local conditions—allowing more trees to be planted for the same cost.

The motion also called for community involvement through resident engagement and stewardship, and a future report to compare costs, growth rates, and community feedback.

This innovative approach aims to help meet Council’s 40% tree canopy target by 2036.

Setting the Record Straight on 2CR

Mayor Elise Borg and Deputy Mayor Nancy Liu recently appeared on Chinese radio station 2CR to address misinformation shared by Councillor Ben Wang in a previous interview.

They provided the Chinese-speaking community with accurate information on key issues including the 2023 Flood Report, the Beverly Hills Master Plan, and highlights from Council’s 2025–26 budget.

You can read the full interview summary here: 2CR Chinese Radio Interview
(Tip: Use your browser's translate function to view the page in English.)

Ongoing Advocacy to Protect Glenlee

Councillors Peter Mahoney and Matt Allison continue to champion the protection of Glenlee, recently meeting with new Federal Member for Banks, Mr Zhi Soon.

During the meeting, they presented Mr Soon with a copy of Glenlee by Glenyss Barnham—a book that highlights the site's historical significance. Mr Soon acknowledged the importance of preserving Glenlee’s heritage and has committed to raising the issue with his colleagues at both federal and state levels.

With growing support, Councillors Mahoney and Allison remain optimistic that Glenlee can be protected for future generations.

GRRRP in the news

• Hurstville Zagreb FC's welcome news in time for 55th anniversary

• Hurstville City Minotaurs' 'The General' finally wins his battle

• A fresh look for the heart of Penshurst celebrates community collaboration

GRRRP in the Community

Stay Connected

If there’s something you’d like raised at Council, reach out to your local GRRRP Councillor — we’re here to help.

Thanks for your continued support — and we look forward to seeing you around the community!

Warm regards,
The GRRRP Team - Mayor Borg, Clr Mahoney, Clr Mort, Clr Jamieson, Clr Allison
Georges River Residents & Ratepayers Party

TeamGRRRP Delivers Positive Change to Council. 🏡🌳

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