Council Meeting - 28 Sep 2026

Topics

• Council warns proposed grant formula could cut Georges River funding by $857,063
  Council has opposed a proposed NSW grant methodology after estimating a major reduction in its annual allocation, including an $825,467 cut to the Local Roads component.
  The change could reduce Council's capacity to fund roads and other local services.
• Ramsgate planning proposal advances with divided Council submission
  Council endorsed a submission on a major Ramsgate planning proposal in an 8–5 vote, sending its position to the State planning department.
  The proposal affects several prominent Ramsgate road frontages and the future development assessment process.
• Georges River early-learning services forecast a $122,000 deficit
  Council adjusted the Early Learning Services forecast by $139,000 after award, funding and utilisation changes.
  The decision highlights financial pressure on Council-run childcare and early-learning services.

Decisions

• Early Learning Services budget adjustment
  Council reduced the forecast operating result by $139,000, resulting in a revised budget deficit of $122,000. The decision reflected changes to the Local Government (State) Award, Start Strong Long Day Care funding and service utilisation. Council also noted measures to support long-term service sustainability.
  The change may affect Council-run early learning service planning and future financial decisions, although no immediate service closure or fee change was recorded.
• Traffic and road safety measures in Oatley
  Council endorsed detailed design of a proposed speed hump, kerb blisters, signage and related safety improvements on Hurstville Road west of Ada Street, subject to funding. Line markings at Hurstville Road and Judd Street were approved for installation.
  Residents may see future road-safety works and changed traffic markings in Oatley.
• Park Road corridor investigations
  Council noted the Park Road corridor traffic study and directed further investigation of a possible roundabout at Park Road, Wyee Street and Bayview Street, as well as possible right-turn restrictions at Ramsgate Road and Park Road. Further proposals are subject to consultation and funding.
  The decision starts further investigation but does not approve construction. Nearby residents and road users may be consulted.
• Draft Grants and Donations Policy exhibited
  Council approved public exhibition of a revised Grants and Donations Policy for at least 28 days and proposed delegating certain financial-assistance decisions to the General Manager. A further report will consider public feedback and a final policy.
  Community groups will have an opportunity to comment on how Council grants and donations are administered.
• Planning submission for Ramsgate development proposal
  Council endorsed a submission on Planning Proposal PP-2023-2881 covering 193-199 Rocky Point Road, 66-68 Ramsgate Road and 2-4 Targo Road, Ramsgate, and authorised minor amendments before lodgement with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. The motion passed 8 votes to 5.
  The submission will inform the State planning process for the proposed development area; it is not an approval of the planning proposal.
• Playspace shade requirements strengthened
  Council resolved that shade provision, including natural and built shade, be considered in future playspace renewals and upgrades. Shade needs and indicative costs are to be identified during project planning, and opportunities to improve shade at existing playspaces are to be investigated. Council noted that 48 of its 118 playspaces have shade sails.
  Future playspace designs and capital-planning decisions should give greater consideration to heat protection for children, carers and other users.
• Chinese-language social media communications
  Council found it feasible to promote services and events through platforms including WeChat and RED and authorised a select-tender process to engage a third-party provider.
  Council information and event promotion may become more accessible to residents who use Chinese-language social media.
• Financial Assistance Grant methodology opposed
  Council opposed proposed changes to the NSW Local Government Grants Commission methodology, estimating a $825,467 reduction in the Local Roads component and an overall reduction of $857,063 compared with its 2025/26 allocation. Council will advocate for a fair and transparent methodology.
  A reduction in external grant funding could place pressure on future local-road and other Council services if implemented.
• E-bike regulatory advocacy
  Council adopted a foreshadowed motion calling on NSW ministers to establish clear operator obligations, provide councils with relevant e-bike data, fund local management and clarify enforcement responsibilities. The General Manager is to report any NSW Government response and implementation implications.
  The advocacy concerns e-bike safety, parking, accessibility, enforcement and the management of shared micromobility in public spaces.

Discussion

• Synthetic sports fields
  Council noted reviews and existing mitigation measures for rubber crumb migration and environmental impacts. Future resurfacing projects must assess alternative surfaces, infill products, stormwater treatment, lifecycle costs and environmental impacts.
  Sports-field users and nearby communities may benefit from stronger environmental and lifecycle assessment before future renewals.
• Quarry Reserve precinct
  Council endorsed the concept design as a basis for detailed design, including investigation of two dedicated pickleball courts. Noise, lighting, landscaping, parking, accessibility and lifecycle costs will be examined. Construction is expected to be deferred by approximately one year.
  The project is progressing, but construction timing may move back and final scope and funding remain subject to future decisions.
• Penshurst Town Centre
  Council requested a report on ways to improve shopfront facades and identify grants or other funding that could support upgrades.
  Businesses and property owners in Penshurst may receive information about possible façade-improvement support.
• Heritage enforcement reporting
  Council requested a report by the March 2027 Environment and Planning Committee meeting on heritage complaints, enforcement actions, outcomes, resourcing and the feasibility of publishing a quarterly public summary.
  The proposal could improve public visibility of heritage compliance activity while retaining privacy protections for individual matters.
• Arthur Hardiman Reserve and Oatley Bowling Club project status
  A notice of motion recorded delays and funding dependencies affecting works, including Oatley Bowling Club detailed designs and the re-scoping of Arthur Hardiman Reserve for a pocket forest or community garden. A further report was requested by no later than March 2027.
  Residents are seeking clarity about project scope, safety works, funding and delivery timeframes.
• Alcohol-free and alcohol-prohibited areas
  Council endorsed identified areas for public exhibition for at least 28 days and will consider community feedback in a future report.
  Residents and businesses will have an opportunity to comment on proposed restrictions on alcohol consumption in specified public places.

Impacts

• Potential future road-safety works on Hurstville Road in Oatley and further traffic investigations in the Park Road corridor.
• Early Learning Services recorded a revised $122,000 forecast deficit after a $139,000 budget adjustment.
• Future playspace projects must consider shade more systematically, with shade improvements also to be investigated at existing sites.
• Council may expand service and event communications through WeChat and RED.
• A possible reduction in Financial Assistance Grants could affect future Council funding capacity, particularly for local roads.
• Quarry Reserve construction may be deferred by approximately one year while detailed design and specialist investigations proceed.
• Residents can comment on the Draft Grants and Donations Policy and proposed alcohol restrictions during public exhibition periods.

Places

• Hurstville (suburb)
  Early learning, traffic, litter-collection and Council service matters affect the area.
• Oatley (suburb)
  Hurstville Road safety works, Oatley Bowling Club and Moore Reserve fishing-access investigations are relevant.
• Beverly Hills (suburb)
  A six-month trial proposes earlier litter-collection vehicle start times on King Georges Road and Stoney Creek Road.
• Kingsgrove (suburb)
  Traffic investigations and earlier litter-collection vehicle start times affect several roads.
• Ramsgate (suburb)
  A planning submission concerns Rocky Point Road, Ramsgate Road and Targo Road.
• Penshurst (suburb)
  Council requested a report on shopfront improvements in the town centre and heritage enforcement reporting covers the area.
• Kogarah (suburb)
  A temporary road closure for the No Domestic Violence Walk will affect the Kogarah Park to Kogarah Town Square route.
• Quarry Reserve (reserve/precinct)
  Concept design and possible pickleball courts are progressing to detailed design.

Next

• Place the revised Grants and Donations Policy and identified alcohol-free and alcohol-prohibited areas on public exhibition.
  For at least 28 days.
• Undertake detailed design for Oatley traffic measures, subject to funding, and install approved line markings.
  Future traffic-program delivery; timing not specified.
• Investigate the Park Road, Wyee Street and Bayview Street roundabout and possible Ramsgate Road restrictions, with community consultation.
  Before any implementation; timing not specified.
• Progress Quarry Reserve to detailed design, including investigation of pickleball courts and operational impacts.
  Construction expected to be deferred by approximately one year.
• Report on heritage enforcement activity and the feasibility of a public quarterly summary.
  No later than the March 2027 Environment and Planning Committee meeting.
• Use a select-tender process to appoint a provider for WeChat and RED communications.
  Following the Council resolution; timing not specified.
• Write to NSW ministers about e-bike regulation and report any response to Council.
  Following implementation of the NSW regulatory framework or receipt of a government response.

Extract

MINUTES Council Meeting Monday, 28 September 2026 7:00 PM Dragon Room Civic Centre Hurstville Georges River Council - Minutes of Council Meeting - 28 September 2026 PRESENT COUNCIL MEMBERS The Mayor, Councillor Elise Borg, Councillor Matthew Allison, Councillor Tom Arthur, Councillor Thomas Gao, Councillor Gerard Hayes, Councillor Christina Jamieson, Councillor Kathryn Landsberry, Councillor Nancy Liu, Councillor Peter Mahoney, Councillor Natalie Mort, Councillor Leon Pun, Councillor Sam Stratikopoulos, and Councillor Ben Wang. COUNCIL STAFF General Manager – David Tuxford, A/Director Assets and Infrastructure – Sam Lindsay, A/Director Environment and Planning – Andrew Spooner, A/Director C...