Georges River Council is inviting the community to provide feedback on the draft Beverly Hills Master Plan. It is a long-term vision to guide growth and improvements in the Beverly Hills Town Centre over the next 20 years. Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:59:06 GMT Georges River Council is inviting the community to provide feedback on the draft Beverly Hills Master Plan. It is a long-term vision to guide growth and improvements in the Beverly Hills Town Centre over the next 20 years. andnbsp; The Beverly Hills Town Centre is one of seven local centres in the Georges River area. It plays an important role in supporting residents, businesses and visitors. The draft Master Plan outlines how the centre could grow and change in the future while improving public spaces, transport connections and local infrastructure. andnbsp; The draft Master Plan focuses on five key areas:Renewing and revitalising King Georges Road.Providing more homes close to transport and services.Creating a new civic square and community gathering place.Improving connections for people moving around the centre.Delivering new and upgraded pocket parks and plazas.The draft plan has been updated following technical studies, community feedback and changes to NSW Government planning policies. This includes consideration of flood risk, pipeline safety and the NSW Governmentand#39;s Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy. andnbsp; Georges River Council Mayor Elise Borg said, andldquo;The Beverly Hills Master Plan sets out a vision for how the town centre could develop over the coming decades. andnbsp; andldquo;We want to hear from residents, businesses, property owners and visitors. Community feedback will help Council understand what matters most to people and will inform the next stage of the planning process.andrdquo; andnbsp; The consultation period closes on Sunday 27 September. Council will also be hosting information sessions for the community to attend. To submit your feedback and find out more information, visit Councilandrsquo;s Your Say webpage. https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fStGeorge%2fmedia%2fNews-thumbnails%2fBeverly-Hills-Master-Plan-2026_Thumbnail.png%3fext%3d.png afe0f163-74b0-4cc9-89fb-f3cf6e7045b7 https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fCouncil%2fPublications%2fMedia%2fBeverly-Hills-Master-Plan-now-on-Public-Exhibition Animals are taking over Hurstville Museum and Gallery! Anatomy Lessons by Australian artist Michele Beevors, invites visitors to take a closer look at unique wildlife through life-size sculptures. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 02:56:37 GMT Animals are taking over Hurstville Museum andamp; Gallery! Anatomy Lessons by Australian artist Michele Beevors, invites visitors to take a closer look at unique wildlife through life-size sculptures. From a dolphin and gorilla to a flamingo and frogs, visitors can explore carefully crafted, skeletal sculptures of these fascinating animals. andnbsp; Based in New Zealand, Michele is passionate about animals and translates her fascination for the natural world into her art. In this exhibition, she observes and sculpts to-scale animal skeletons using wire and wool. andnbsp; Micheleandrsquo;s interest in animals is driven by a deep sense of care and concern for the planetandrsquo;s wildlife. 17 years in the making, this exhibition brings focus to the wonders of the natural world and the part we play in its survival. andnbsp; These works will be shown at Hurstville Museum andamp; Gallery. A selection will also be at Clive James Library in Kogarah. andnbsp; Join Hurstville Museum andamp; Gallery for the exhibitionandrsquo;s opening night on Friday 11 September at 6pm, and hear Michele talk about this fantastic show. Special programs for families and adults will also take place on Saturday 12 September with the artist. andnbsp; Georges River Council Mayor Elise Borg said, andquot;This exhibition is sure to excite and delight visitors of all ages.andrdquo; andnbsp; andldquo;Beyond its beauty and creativity, it offers a timely reminder of the importance of protecting wildlife and the habitats they live in.andrdquo; andnbsp;Anatomy Lessons will run until 6 December, with many special events helping to bring the exhibition to life over the next few months. andnbsp; For more information and to book the special programs online, visit Councilandrsquo;s Whatandrsquo;s On webpage. Or, contact the Hurstville Museum andamp; Gallery team at museumgallery@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au or by phone on (02) 9330 6444. https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fStGeorge%2fmedia%2fImagesLib%2fCommunity%2fMuseum%2520and%2520Gallery%2fMichele-Beevors-thumbnail.png%3fext%3d.png b5b8d66a-c98e-4052-9379-daafe8418595 https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fCouncil%2fPublications%2fMedia%2fStep-Into-the-Wild-with-Michele-Beevors-Anatomy-Le The draft Kogarah Strategic Centre Master Plan is now on exhibition and Council wants to hear from the community. Thu, 20 Aug 2026 05:31:45 GMT The draft Kogarah Strategic Centre Master Plan is now on exhibition and Council wants to hear from the community. Kogarah is an important centre for health, education, business, transport, housing and community services. The draft Master Plan considers how the area can grow and evolve over the next 20 years while remaining as a place where people can live, work, study, visit and access important services. The draft Master Plan focuses on the area bounded by:Harrow Road to the north.The T4 Illawarra rail line to the west.Princes Highway to the east.Jubilee Avenue to the south. The draft Master Plan will help guide future planning for:Land use and future development.Housing choice and affordability.Jobs, business and local services.Kogarahandrsquo;s role as a health and education precinct.Walking, cycling, public transport, traffic and parking.Parks, public spaces and community infrastructure.Greener, safer and more connected streets and places. Georges River Council Mayor Elise Borg said, andldquo;Kogarah is one of the key hubs within Georges River, serving as one of two Strategic Centres alongside Hurstville. andnbsp; andldquo;This draft Master Plan is integral to the future vision for Kogarah. I encourage all members of our community to review the draft Master Plan and look forward to receiving feedback.andrdquo; andnbsp; The draft Master Plan does notandnbsp;make changes to how people can use their homes or businesses. Existing planning controls continue to apply unless changes are later adopted by Council and, where required, the NSW Government. andnbsp; The consultation closes on 9 September 2026. Council will be hosting information sessions for the community to attend. For more information and to submit your feedback, visit Councilandrsquo;s Your Say webpage. https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fStGeorge%2fmedia%2fNews-thumbnails%2fKogarah-Master-Plan-2026-Study-Area_Thumbnail.png%3fext%3d.png ef6fa4f6-2ea6-46db-ac84-09681b34c366 https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fCouncil%2fPublications%2fMedia%2fCouncil-invites-community-feedback-on-the-draft-Ko Georges River Council intends to remove a large Hills Fig tree located at 117 Penshurst Street, Penshurst following independent arboricultural assessments that determined the tree presents an unacceptable risk to public safety. Tue, 18 Aug 2026 04:47:29 GMT Georges River Council intends to remove a large Hills Fig tree located at 117 Penshurst Street, Penshurst following independent arboricultural assessments that determined the tree presents an unacceptable risk to public safety. andnbsp; The mature Hills Fig (Ficus macrocarpa) is on the Counciland#39;s Significant Tree Register. It has faced serious health decline and structural issues. The tree is scheduled to be removed during the week commencing 24 August, weather permitting. andnbsp; The tree has been a prominent feature of the local streetscape for many years and Council does not make decisions to remove significant trees lightly. However, the latest expert advice indicates the risk posed by the tree can no longer be managed through pruning and maintenance alone. andnbsp; Council first responded to reports of a large branch failure within the tree canopy in April 2026. After the inspection, Council removed the failed branch and deadwood to manage risks. andnbsp; A follow-up assessment in July 2026 found that the treeand#39;s condition had continued to decline. The assessment found the tree presents a high risk of failure, with the potential to impact people, vehicles and nearby property. andnbsp; Following removal, replacement planting will be undertaken in line with Councilandrsquo;s Street Tree Master Plan (2024) to ensure the long-term retention and renewal of tree canopy within the local area. andnbsp; Georges River Council Mayor Elise Borg said the decision to remove the tree was not taken lightly. andnbsp; andquot;It is with great disappointment that this significant Hills Fig needs to be removed,andquot; Mayor Borg said. andnbsp; andquot;Trees on our Significant Tree Register are valued community assets and Council carefully considers all available management options before any removal decision is made. andnbsp; andldquo;Unfortunately, the latest arboricultural advice confirms that the tree presents an unacceptable risk to public safety. In these circumstances, the safety of our community must remain Counciland#39;s highest priority.andquot; andnbsp;andnbsp; The tree was added to the Counciland#39;s Significant Tree Register in January 2024. It is monitored regularly through the Counciland#39;s Tree Management Program. andnbsp; The decision to remove the tree was reviewed under Section 5.4 of Counciland#39;s Tree Management Policy 2024. This section requires any proposed removal of a tree on the Significant Tree Register to be reviewed and assessed by senior Council officers. andnbsp; Georges River Council remains committed to protecting and enhancing the urban tree canopy while maintaining public safety and managing risks in accordance with professional arboricultural advice. andnbsp; Residents worried about tree health or safety can report issues using the Counciland#39;s Log It Fix It portal. https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fStGeorge%2fmedia%2fNews-thumbnails%2fMoreton-Bay-Fig_ThumbnailFinal.png%3fext%3d.png e7e6a26a-9818-4b73-9f6f-d901fab26b86 https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fCouncil%2fPublications%2fMedia%2fRemoval-of-Significant-Tree-117-Penshurst-Street-P Georges River Council is encouraging residents to review the Principal Certifier and Council Responsibilities Policy 2024. It explains the roles and duties of certifiers, Council, builders, and property owners in development. It helps people know who handles what during a building project. Mon, 17 Aug 2026 06:29:20 GMT Georges River Council is encouraging residents to review the Principal Certifier and Council Responsibilities Policy 2024. It explains the roles and duties of certifiers, Council, builders, and property owners in development. It helps people know who handles what during a building project. andnbsp; As Private Certifiers are overwhelmingly being used for building works, the community needs to know who handles what. Itandrsquo;s also important to understand how to raise concerns when issues arise. andnbsp; A Principal Certifier is a qualified expert from Council or a private company. They are appointed by the property owner before construction begins. andnbsp; Responsibilities include:Issuing development certificates.Conducting mandatory inspections.Ensuring compliance with approved plans and the National Construction Code.Managing complaints.Uploading certification documents to the NSW Planning Portal. When a Private Certifier is appointed, Council isnand#39;t involved in day-to-day site supervision. However, Council retains enforcement powers and will act in specific circumstances, including:When there is an immediate threat to life, safety, property or the environment.When a Written Direction Notice has not been complied with.Subsequently, Council also has the authority to:Issue stop-work orders.Issue fines.Pursue legal action where necessary. Georges River Council Mayor Elise Borg said, andldquo;Development can be disruptive and confusing. This policy helps our community know who to contact and what Council can do. andnbsp; andquot;It also shows how we protect safety, heritage, and the environment.andquot; andnbsp; Residents often come to Council to raise concerns about noise, safety, environmental impacts, and non-compliance. These concerns should be directed to the Principal Certifier in the first instance. Their contact details should be shown at the front of the development site. If no signage is visible, Councilandrsquo;s Customer Service team can assist. andnbsp; The NSW Building Commission regulates the conduct of all registered certifiers. They must follow the Code of Conduct and act in the public interest. The Commission can investigate complaints, resolve disputes, and suspend certifiers when necessary. andnbsp; Complying Development Certificates will have expanded powers to vary development controls. This is under the NSW Planning System Reforms Bill 2025. It means more developments may bypass the traditional Development Application process through Council. andnbsp; Council is committed to helping residents understand the development process and their rights. andnbsp; More information can be found on Counciland#39;s Certification Campaign webpage. https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fStGeorge%2fmedia%2fNews-thumbnails%2fSite-Inspection_ThumbnailFinal.png%3fext%3d.png 99cfe4d6-3c25-444a-9482-a0833de030b1 https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fCouncil%2fPublications%2fMedia%2fUnderstand-Building-and-Development-in-Georges-Riv Sydney’s south is set to come alive as the Sydney Fringe Festival returns to Hurstville this September! Wed, 12 Aug 2026 03:35:32 GMT Sydneyandrsquo;s south is set to come alive as the Sydney Fringe Festival returns to Hurstville this September! andnbsp; Georges River Council is teaming up with Sydney Fringe to deliver three exciting activations as part of this yearandrsquo;s festival, celebrating culture, community and creativity. Featuring music, movement and mouth-watering bites, the festival invites locals and visitors to come together and enjoy a vibrant program of entertainment and experiences. andnbsp; Visitors will have the chance to explore a world of homestyle Malaysian dinners and comedy from an all-star menu of storytellers at FEAST. Indian food and home cooking will also be front and centre, with conversations about how food, comedy and culture influence each other at FEAST: Chaat Show Edition. andnbsp; The program will conclude with Fringeville. It is set to transform Hurstville Plaza into a bold celebration of music, movement, fire and flavour, with performers and local artists bringing the energy. andnbsp; Georges River Council Mayor Elise Borg said, andldquo;The Sydney Fringe Festival truly embodies what Georges River is all about andndash; connection, culture and creativity. andnbsp; andldquo;Itandrsquo;s a bustling event that I look forward to every year. It truly reflects our community and creates opportunities for all to enjoy what Hurstville has to offer. Be sure to come along and immerse yourself in what is going to be a huge celebration!andrdquo; andnbsp;Full program details:FEAST: Chaat Show EditionExplore a world of Indian home cooking with Flyoverandnbsp;Fritterieandnbsp;founder Gunjan Aylawadi, MasterChef Australia starandnbsp;Depinderandnbsp;Chhibber, and comedian Suraj Kolarkar, hosted by Jennifer Wong (Chopsticks or Fork?). Includes chai and chaat! andnbsp;Date: Thursday 10 September 2026.Time: 3.00pm andndash; 4.30pm.Location: Marana Auditorium, 16 MacMahon Street, Hurstville.FEASTEnjoy a homestyle Malaysian dinner by Sarah Tiong (MasterChef Australia), with food stories from Australiaandrsquo;s funniest writers:andnbsp;andnbsp; Farz Edraki, Richard Glover, Alex Lee, Siang Lu, Sarah Malik, and Daniel Nour. Hosted by Jennifer Wong. andnbsp;Date: Thursday 10 September 2026.Time: 6.00pm andndash; 9.00pm.Location: Marana Auditorium, 16 MacMahon Street, Hurstville.FringevilleSouth-West Sydney takes centre stage asandnbsp;Fringevilleandnbsp;transforms Hurstville Plaza into a one-night celebration of music, fire, dance, and street food. Free, all ages, bursting with local talent and alive with Fringe spirit. andnbsp;Date: Saturday 12 Septemberandnbsp;2026.Time: 6.00pm andndash; 9.00pm.Location: Hurstville Plaza, 296 Forest Road, Hurstville. andnbsp; andnbsp; For more information, visit Councilandrsquo;s Sydney Fringe Festival webpage. https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fStGeorge%2fmedia%2fEvent-Thumbnails%2fFRINGE-Festival_Thumbnail.jpg%3fext%3d.jpg 833c7abc-6df7-4307-ba8a-1b812d61aa34 https%3a%2f%2fwww.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au%2fCouncil%2fPublications%2fMedia%2fSydney-Fringe-Festival-is-back-in-Hurstville!