REMEMBERING OUR ANZACS

It was wonderful to see so many people out to commemorate Anzac Day this year after two years of Covid. Our GRRRP Councillors attended Anzac Day services at South Hurstville RSL, Kogarah RSL and St Marks Anglican Church at South Hurstville.

UPDATE: MORTDALE MASTER PLAN

Our GRRRP Councillors were invited by the Save Mortdale Village group to attend a series of community consultation sessions it hosted on 27 April. The group commissioned its own town planning lawyer who was on site to answer community questions and guide residents on understanding the Mortdale Master Plan proposal. 

GRRRP Councillors campaigned on a platform of changing the Mortdale Master Plan to one that reflects the wishes of the community. Our position on this has not changed and we will certainly be listening and being informed by the views put forward by the community in our decision-making on the future of the Mortdale Master Plan.

At the April Council meeting Council resolved to write to the Planning Minister to remove the requirement for the Master Plans to be completed by 30 June. Council also voted to conduct in-person community consultation for both the Mortdale and Beverly Hills Master Plans and once the plans are endorsed by Council place them on public exhibition for 28 days so the community can have its say on the amended plans.

Find out more at savemortdalevillage.org

UPDATE: GLENLEE AT LUGARNO

Our GRRRP Councillors attended the Save Glenlee Lugarno rally, hosted by Friends of Glenlee on Saturday 23 April. The rally had a wonderful turnout, clearly demonstrating the people power behind the campaign to save this unique property that has environmental, cultural and historical significance to the local Georges River community and beyond.

There is now a once in a lifetime opportunity for this property to be saved for future generations by bringing it into public ownership. Addressing the rally were:

• Zhi Soon, federal Labor candidate for Banks

• Hon Penny Sharpe MLC, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and Shadow Minister for the Environment

• Natalie Hanna, federal Greens candidate for Banks

• Georges River Councillors, Peter Mahoney and Kevin Green.

Georges River Residents & Ratepayers Councillors and our fellow Georges River Councillors have been unanimous in our support for saving Glenlee and we will continue to advocate from Council for state and federal governments to fund its purchase.

The Planning Proposal to list the whole of the site at 80 Boronia Parade Lugarno (Glenlee) as a local heritage item in Schedule 5 Environmental heritage of the Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021 is on public exhibition until 3 June 2022. In addition, Council wrote to Heritage NSW on 5 April 2022 supporting the site for State Heritage Listing.

If you support saving Glenlee, please write a submission before 3 June 2022 to support the planning proposal.

HAVE YOUR SAY - WRITE A SUBMISSION

UPDATE: BEVERLY HILLS MASTER PLAN

Our GRRRP Councillors were invited by Chris Minns MP to attend a Beverly Hills Community Forum at the Beverly Hills Kingsgrove Anglican Church to hear the community concerns on the Beverly Hills Master Plan. We were joined by Mayor Nick Katris, Deputy Mayor Kathryn Landsberry and Hurstville Ward Councillors Colleen Symington and Ben Wang.

This community forum was vital so councillors could hear first-hand the concerns of local residents and the angst in the voices of people who fear losing their home through compulsory acquisition if the current Master Plan is not changed. 

Like the Mortdale Master Plan, GRRRP Councillors campaigned on a platform of changing the Beverly Hills Master Plan to one that reflects the community’s wishes. Our GRRRP Councillors do not support compulsory acquisition and will be listening to the community to ensure its views are reflected in our decision-making on the future of the Beverly Hills Master Plan.

Residents will have more opportunity to have their say on the Beverly Hills Master Plan when Council conducts in-person community consultation. Once the plans are revised and endorsed by Council, they will be placed on Public Exhibition for 28 days so the community can have its say on the amended plans.

The Georges River Combined Councils Committee (otherwise known as the Riverkeeper) was founded in 1979 and works to protect natural resources and enhance liveability along our iconic waterway. It is made up of residents who take a keen interest in safeguarding the health of the Georges River as volunteers as well as councillors from the Wollondilly, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Sutherland, Georges River and Bayside areas, and a small administrative team.

Peter Mahoney, our Peakhurst Ward councillor who is Council’s representative on Riverkeeper attended the 2022 AGM and general meeting on 31 March at Georges River Council chambers. Peter reports:

"Although the Riverkeeper is probably best known for activities such as Clean Up Australia Day and Paddle Against Plastic, it also runs valuable programs such as litter prevention, education, bush regeneration, research and water monitoring. It was reassuring to meet so many community representatives and councillors from other LGAs who work diligently to protect both the river and foreshore areas. Six members were given awards at the AGM for their many years of commitment, including my fellow Oatley residents Sharyn Cullis and Kim Wagstaff who, as community representatives, have devoted countless hours in taking care of the river and foreshore areas."

PENSHURST PARK YOUTH CLUB OPENING

Georges River Residents & Ratepayers Councillors attended the 3Bridges launch of the Penshurst Park Youth Facility Centre on 8 April 2022. The centre is part of the $14m stage 2 development of Penshurst Park.

The launch was planned, hosted and delivered by the 3Bridges Youth Advisory Committee. They explained that the Youth Centre’s focus is to create Connection and Opportunity. Indi and Fatima who MC’d the event did a wonderful job and both shared their stories of finding a home at the Youth Centre.

We loved hearing the stories from young people like Rick, who has found a sense of belonging by coming along to the Youth Centre. Rick spoke about when he first attended his only friends were XBox and PS4. Through the guidance and support of the youth workers and other youth, Rick had the confidence to stand up in front of the whole crowd and deliver a passionate and empowering speech about how the Youth Centre has changed his life.

The community is lucky that such a facility exists and is run and supported by passionate youth workers through 3Bridges.

The Youth Centre is located at Penshurst Park: 643 King Georges Road, Penshurst. Follow 3Bridges on Facebook for the latest information.

HEALTHY MINDS & WELLBEING EXPO

On 27 April 2022 Councillor Natalie Mort was invited by GROW to attend the Healthy Minds & Wellbeing Expo at Hurstville Westfield. The expo featured the Benevolent Society, who provide respite to carers, and PHN (Primary Health Networks), a government initiative to help support health professionals in the areas of mental health, psychosocial support, suicide prevention and Aboriginal health.

‘Mental health is something that affects everybody at some stage of their life, whether it is they themselves experiencing it or someone close to them. The Healthy Minds & Wellbeing Expo is a great way to create awareness about the support services available to people suffering mental health challenges’ says Natalie Mort.

Councillor Peter Mahoney joined the Oatley Flora and Fauna Society and other community members in a tree planting day at Claydon Reserve, Sans Souci on Thursday 5 May. The tree planting was part of the "Creating Canopies in Greater Sydney Landcare Network program’.

‘Increasing the number of trees is essential for storing carbon and facilitating cooler temperatures to lessen the harmful effects of climate change. By adding to the tree canopy it increases habitat for our birds, animals and insects and provides much needed shade in a climate that is getting hotter. It greatly improves our quality of life, especially as shade helps reduce the heat island effect,’ says Councillor Peter Mahoney.

IN THE NEWS

• Fears Changes to basement planning controls will undermine smaller businesses - following our update last month on the ‘Activating our Centres’ Policy shop keepers expressed their concern about the policy.

• Move to preserve Old Kogarah Inn for its heritage significance - preserving our heritage and history is important for future generations and the Old Kogarah Inn plays an important part in Kogarah’s history. GRRRP Councillors want to ensure that once the heritage-listed Old Kogarah Inn is preserved, that the building continues to be made available for appropriate community use long into the future.

CONGRATULATIONS NATALIE MORT

She’s going to the IRONMAN World Championship!

Our Blakehurst Ward Councillor Natalie Mort has achieved her dream… she’s going to Kona!! She has qualified for the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii!!

After completing her first Ironman in 1996, it was 22 years before Natalie attempted her second Ironman in 2017. Since 2017 she has completed three full Ironman triathlons and come painstakingly close to qualifying for Kona but just fallen short by one spot each time.

On 1 May, in brutal rain and windy conditions, in a gruelling time of 13 hours, 32 minutes and 55 seconds, Natalie proved that persistence, determination and NEVER giving up pays off!!!

Watch the video to hear Natalie’s elation about getting her spot to Kona.

ISRAEL’S 74TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS

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