Community and Culture Committee - 9 Mar 2026

Key decisions

• Community Engagement Strategy 2026-2036 endorsed
  The committee recommended that Council note the public exhibition findings, endorse the draft Community Engagement Strategy 2026-2036, and delegate authority to the General Manager to make minor administrative amendments.
  Sets how Council will engage with the community over the next decade and how residents can have input into Council decisions.
• Interactions with Children and Young People Policy adopted
  The committee recommended adopting the revised Interactions with Children and Young People Policy after community consultation.
  Affects standards for how Council services and staff interact with children and young people.
• Library unattended age raised from 10 to 12
  The committee recommended a minor amendment to the Library Use and Membership Policy so children must be at least 12 years old to use the library unattended.
  Changes library access rules for families and young library users.
• Event grants approved for April 2026
  The committee recommended $8,140 for the Oatley RSL Sub-Branch ANZAC Day Dawn Service and Family Day, and $20,000 for the Greek Orthodox Parish & Community of Kogarah & District Orthodox Easter event.
  Provides Council support for local commemorative and cultural events in April 2026.
• New community centre named Peakhurst Park Community Centre
  Following community consultation, the committee recommended approving the name 'Peakhurst Park Community Centre' for the new centre under construction at 7a Hedley Street, Riverwood.
  Confirms the public name for a new local community facility.

Important topics

• Sporting amenities and storage facilities consultation to continue
  The Sports Advisory Committee outcomes from the 13 November 2025 workshop were noted, with officers to undertake broader community consultation on a proposed mixed management model for sporting amenities and storage facilities. A future report will come to Council.
  Could affect how sporting facilities and storage spaces are managed and accessed by clubs and the wider community.
• Beverley Park Golf Club finance and public rounds reports noted
  The committee adopted recommendations to receive and note the Beverley Park Golf Club finance report to January 2026 and the public rounds report from March 2025 to February 2026.
  Relevant to users of the golf club and residents interested in oversight of Council-linked sporting facilities.

Resident impacts

• Families using Council libraries should note that children under 12 would no longer be permitted to use the library unattended.
• Residents and community groups can expect Council to operate under a new community engagement framework through 2036 if formally adopted by Council.
• Local commemorative and cultural events in Oatley and Kogarah will receive Council financial and in-kind support in April 2026.
• The new community centre at 7a Hedley Street, Riverwood is set to be publicly known as Peakhurst Park Community Centre.
• Sporting clubs and facility users may be asked to participate in future consultation on management of sporting amenities and storage facilities.

Places affected

• Riverwood (suburb)
  Location of the new community centre at 7a Hedley Street proposed to be named Peakhurst Park Community Centre.
• 7a Hedley Street, Riverwood (address)
  Site of the new community centre naming decision.
• Peakhurst Park (facility/project area)
  Name adopted for the new community centre project.
• Oatley (suburb)
  Location associated with the funded ANZAC Day Dawn Service and Family Day by Oatley RSL Sub-Branch.
• Kogarah (suburb)
  Location associated with the funded Orthodox Easter event by the Greek Orthodox Parish & Community of Kogarah & District.
• Beverley Park Golf Club (facility)
  Subject of finance and public rounds reports noted by the committee.

Next steps

• Council to formally consider the committee recommendations on the strategy, policy changes, event grants, and community centre naming.
  Next Council decision-making stage
• General Manager may make minor administrative amendments to the Community Engagement Strategy if required.
  Following endorsement
• Council officers to undertake broader community consultation on the proposed mixed management model for sporting amenities and storage facilities.
  Upcoming
• A future report on the sporting amenities and storage facilities consultation outcomes is to be presented to Council.
  Future report

Extracted minutes text

MINUTES Community and Culture Committee Monday, 09 March 2026 6:00 PM Dragon Room Georges River Civic Centre Hurstville Georges River Council - Minutes of Community and Culture Committee Meeting - 9 March 2026 PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBERS The Mayor, Councillor Elise Borg, Councillor Kathryn Landsberry (Chair), Councillor Matthew Allison, Councillor Elaina Anzellotti, Councillor Oliver Dimoski, Councillor Thomas Gao, Councillor Gerard Hayes, Councillor Christina Jamieson, Councillor Nancy Liu, Councillor Peter Mahoney, Councillor Natalie Mort, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Sam Stratikopoulos, and Councillor Ben Wang. COUNCIL STAFF General Manager – David Tuxford, Director Assets and Infrastructure – B...