Housing & planning · Georges River Council
Committee backs Riverwood plan, but pedestrian link and public spaces remain unresolved
Georges River’s Environment and Planning Committee unanimously recommended an amended Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan after exhibition, including a review of the proposed link through Homes NSW land at 17 - 27 Hardwicke Street.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A proposed pedestrian connection at 17 - 27 Hardwicke Street, Riverwood, would be reviewed under an amended local-centre plan recommended unanimously by Georges River Council’s Environment and Planning Committee. The minutes list 13 councillors as voting for the recommendation and none against.
The plan would retain the broader Riverwood planning framework while correcting minor mapping inconsistencies and clarifying guidance on built-form transitions and zoning interfaces. It would also strengthen references to Aboriginal cultural heritage, connection to Country and opportunities for cultural interpretation, storytelling, public art and place-making in future public-domain projects.
The proposed link affecting Homes NSW land is not being confirmed as a delivered project. The recommendation calls for alternative connection opportunities to be investigated through future planning and implementation processes.
Other facilities shown in the Public Domain Plan, including public spaces, plazas, active-transport links and recreational facilities, are described in the recommendation as indicative. They would remain subject to further investigation, detailed design and community consultation.
The committee also recommended preparing an infrastructure Works Schedule, considering any necessary changes to Council’s Contributions Plan and coordinating with government agencies on infrastructure planning, funding and delivery. Implementation would include preparing a planning proposal and precinct-based amendments to the Georges River Development Control Plan, but those steps would be subject to future budget allocation and separate Council consideration.
Under the recommendation, requests raised during exhibition about traffic management, pedestrian improvements, footpaths and lighting would be referred to relevant Council business units for consideration through existing operational programmes, asset-management processes and future capital-works planning. The minutes do not specify a timetable, project cost or infrastructure allocation for Riverwood. People and organisations that made submissions would be notified of the council’s decision.
What deserves a closer look
The committee carried a recommendation to Council; the supplied record does not establish final Council adoption of the Riverwood plan.
The recommendation advances a planning framework but does not establish a funded construction programme. Its proposed implementation is expressly conditional on future budget allocation and separate Council consideration.
The recommendation calls for review of the proposed pedestrian connection and describes mapped public-domain facilities as indicative, leaving their final form and delivery unresolved.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When will the full Council consider the committee's Riverwood recommendation?
What projects and costs will be included in the proposed infrastructure Works Schedule?
What alternative pedestrian connections will be assessed for 17–27 Hardwicke Street, and when will that assessment occur?
What happens next
If Council adopts the recommendation, review the proposed pedestrian connection affecting Homes NSW land at 17–27 Hardwicke Street and investigate alternative connection opportunities through future planning and implementation processes.
If Council adopts the recommendation, prepare an infrastructure Works Schedule, consider any necessary Contributions Plan amendments and coordinate with relevant government agencies on infrastructure planning, funding and delivery.
If Council endorses implementation, prepare a planning proposal and precinct-based DCP amendments, subject to future budget allocation and separate Council consideration.
If Council adopts the recommendation, refer traffic, pedestrian, footpath and lighting requests outside the Master Plan's scope to relevant Council business units for consideration through existing operational programmes, asset-management processes and future capital-works planning.
If Council adopts the recommendation, notify people and organisations that made submissions of Council's decision regarding the Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The committee recommendation calls for Council to adopt the amended Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan and associated studies, incorporating post-exhibition amendments.
The Motion was CARRIED. ENV047-26 Riverwood Master Plan - Post Exhibition Outcomes (Report by Senior Strategic Planner) Note: It was noted that Councillor Pun returned to the Chambers at 08:48pm Note: It was noted that Councillor Mahoney left the Chambers at 08:52pm COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Councillor Liu, Councillor Allison (a) That Council note the submissions received during the public exhibition of the Draft Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan. (b) That Council adopt the amended Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan and associated studies provided at Attachments 1 to 6, incorporating the following post-exhibition amendments: (i) Review of the proposed through-site pedestrian connection affecting Homes NSW land at 17–27 Hardwicke Street, with alternative connection opportunities to be investigated through future planning and implementation processes.
ENV047-26, committee recommendation and clause (b)
Open original minutes ↗The recommendation proposes reviewing the through-site pedestrian connection affecting Homes NSW land at 17–27 Hardwicke Street, with alternative connection opportunities to be investigated through future planning and implementation processes.
(b) That Council adopt the amended Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan and associated studies provided at Attachments 1 to 6, incorporating the following post-exhibition amendments: (i) Review of the proposed through-site pedestrian connection affecting Homes NSW land at 17–27 Hardwicke Street, with alternative connection opportunities to be investigated through future planning and implementation processes.
ENV047-26, clause (b)(i)
Open original minutes ↗The proposed amendments would correct minor mapping inconsistencies, clarify guidance on built-form transitions and zoning interfaces, and clarify that future public spaces, plazas, active-transport links and recreational facilities shown in the Public Domain Plan are indicative and subject to further investigation, detailed design and community consultation.
(ii) Correction of minor mapping inconsistencies and clarification of guidance relating to built form transitions and zoning interfaces. (iii) Clarification that future public spaces, plazas, active transport links and recreational facilities shown in the Public Domain Plan are indicative and will be subject to further investigation, detailed design and community consultation.
ENV047-26, clauses (b)(ii)–(iii)
Open original minutes ↗The proposed amendments would strengthen recognition of Aboriginal cultural heritage, connection to Country and opportunities for Aboriginal cultural interpretation, storytelling, public art and place-making within future public-domain projects.
(iv) Strengthened recognition of Aboriginal cultural heritage, connection to Country and opportunities for Aboriginal cultural interpretation, storytelling, public art and place- making within future public domain projects.
ENV047-26, clause (b)(iv)
Open original minutes ↗The proposed implementation framework would include preparation of an infrastructure Works Schedule, consideration of any necessary Contributions Plan amendments and coordination with government agencies on infrastructure planning, funding and delivery.
(vi) Strengthening of the implementation framework through preparation of an infrastructure Works Schedule, consideration of any necessary amendments to Council's existing Contributions Plan, and ongoing coordination with relevant government agencies to support infrastructure planning, funding and delivery.
ENV047-26, clause (b)(vi)
Open original minutes ↗The recommendation asks Council to note that the post-exhibition amendments do not alter the exhibited Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan's strategic vision, development capacity, built-form framework or key planning outcomes.
(d) That Council note that the post-exhibition amendments do not alter the strategic vision, development capacity, built form framework or key planning outcomes of the exhibited Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan.
ENV047-26, clause (d)
Open original minutes ↗The recommendation proposes implementation of the Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan, including preparation of a Planning Proposal, precinct-based amendments to the Georges River Development Control Plan 2021 and investigation of infrastructure funding and delivery mechanisms, subject to future budget allocation and separate Council consideration.
(e) That Council endorse the implementation of the Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan, including preparation of a Planning Proposal, precinct-based amendments to the Georges River Development Control Plan 2021, and investigation of infrastructure funding and delivery mechanisms, subject to future budget allocation and separate Council consideration.
ENV047-26, clause (e)
Open original minutes ↗The recommendation proposes referring submission requests about traffic management, pedestrian improvements, footpath upgrades, lighting and other operational matters outside the Master Plan's scope to relevant Council business units for consideration through existing operational programs, asset-management processes and future capital-works planning.
(f) That requests raised through submissions relating to traffic management, pedestrian improvements, footpath upgrades, lighting and other operational matters outside the scope of the Master Plan be referred to the relevant Council business units for consideration through existing operational programs, asset management processes and future capital works planning.
ENV047-26, clause (f)
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This report is based on the minutes of Georges River Council’s Environment and Planning Committee meeting on 9 November 2026. The supplied record does not establish whether those minutes have been confirmed.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Environment and Planning Committee recommended adopting the amended Riverwood Local Centre Master Plan after public exhibition.
- The recorded vote on the recommendation was unanimous, with 13 councillors listed as voting for it.
- The recommendation calls for review of the proposed pedestrian connection affecting Homes NSW land at 17 - 27 Hardwicke Street and investigation of alternatives.
- The recommendation describes public spaces, plazas, active-transport links and recreational facilities in the Public Domain Plan as indicative and subject to further investigation, detailed design and community consultation.
- Implementation would be subject to future budget allocation and separate Council consideration.
Why it matters
- The plan would provide a framework for future development and public-domain changes in Riverwood, but the proposed pedestrian connection and other facilities are not guaranteed projects. The recommendation leaves further investigation, design and consultation ahead, with implementation subject to future budget allocation and separate council consideration.