Georges River Council endorses decade-long engagement plan

Georges River Council has endorsed its draft Community Engagement Strategy 2026-2036 after public exhibition and delegated authority to the General Manager to make minor administrative amendments. The resolution was passed at the council’s 23 March 2026 meeting in the Dragon Room at the Civic Centre, Hurstville.

The strategy will guide how the council consults with residents and communicates with the community over the next decade. The minutes record no change to the substance of the draft, only permission for minor administrative edits before it is finalised.

The engagement strategy was one of several community policy items dealt with on the night. Councillors also adopted the revised Interactions with Children and Young People Policy and approved a change to the Library Use and Membership Policy, lifting the age for unattended children from 10 to 12 years.

The new name for the Riverwood facility was also confirmed. Council approved Peakhurst Park Community Centre for the building at 7a Hedley Street, Riverwood.

Other decisions included traffic and parking changes across the area. Council approved a six-month trial to extend the Kiss & Ride area on Ecole Street in Carlton and introduce timed left-turn restrictions at Ecole Street and Ecole Lane during school times.

The same meeting backed several parking and waste collection changes in Blakehurst, Riverwood, Hurstville, South Hurstville, Allawah, Kingsgrove and Beverley Hills. It also approved earlier waste collection start times on Bonds Road and Stoney Creek Road.

Council’s planning agenda also advanced. It adopted the amended proposal to reclassify part of Moore Park, Beverley Park, from community land to operational land and will send the matter to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for finalisation and gazettal.

Councillors also voted 12-1 to forward Planning Proposal 2026/0002 on the Moomba to Sydney Ethane Pipeline hazard analysis to the department for Gateway determination and future public exhibition. The proposal relates to planning controls tied to pipeline hazard considerations.

For residents, the engagement strategy sets the framework for how Georges River Council will ask for feedback, report back and consult on future decisions over the next 10 years. It is the policy base for the council’s public engagement work through to 2036.

The minutes also note that council requested a report on the feasibility and scope of developing an Artificial Intelligence policy or governance framework for Georges River Council.