Yesterday we welcomed the fifth anniversary of the amalgamation of two former councils that formed Georges River Council on 12 May 2016.
As the inaugural Mayor of Georges River Council, I am extremely pleased to say, that I have the privilege to work with extraordinary and talented staff, who displayed the visionary leadership, to shape the growth of this beautiful part of Sydney since 2016.
The amalgamation of two organisations whilst maintaining everyday services is an unique and complex task. It requires the involvement of the entire organisation and the support of the community.
Georges River Council has embraced the fresh start, building the foundations for a strong and sustainable organisation - more than one third of our workforce comprises of local residents - a true reflection of how strong Council's commitment is to the excellence and welfare of our community and city.
Since then, we have been harmonising and improving services to deliver benefits to our residents and businesses, in a financially sustainable manner.
Over the past five years, we have reached some significant milestones, including:
- The launch of contemporary customer service centres, offering flexible, multi-use community spaces at Hurstville Civic Centre and the Kogarah Library and Service Centre.
- Designed a new Rate Structure.
- Being the second NSW council to receive endorsement from the Greater Sydney Commission for the Georges River Local Planning Statement (LSPS) 2040. The LSPS guides land use planning and the delivery of significant infrastructure over the next 20 years.
- Delivering key capital works projects worth over $224 million.
- Reaching approximately 1000 individual milestones in the harmonisation of the former Councils' functions, policies, procedures and transformation of projects and programs.
- Completing 93% of integration milestones and 85% of transformation, averaging 90% for the total program, in the first two years of amalgamation.
- Delivering 95% of the scheduled major Projects funded by the NSW Government's Stronger Community Fund, since amalgamation, resulting in improved community infrastructure and services for our growing community.
- Receiving the LG Excellence Award for Special Project Initiative for the re-branding of Georges River Council in 2018.
- Advanced building management systems, which allows Council to control and monitor heating, ventilation and air conditioning, resulting in reduced power consumption of 19.6% at Hurstville Library; 10.4% at Hurstville Civic Centre and 9.4% at Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre
- Participating in the Cities Power Partnership networking with over 100 Australian Councils on climate actions, connecting us with key tools to help track emissions, energy and cost savings and providing support in managing climate change, resulting in the installation of solar lights at Sans Souci car park, saving three tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
- One of the first Councils to achieve zero plastic pledge, with no single use plastic bags and straws across Council-owned venues, facilities, functions and events, also covering stallholders and sponsors of Council events.
- Planting and giving away close to 3,600 plants each year in accordance with. Community feedback on greening our area being of the highest importance.
- Removing over 157 tonnes of waste from our waterways each year, keeping the Georges River clean for everyone to enjoy.
- Creating 13 accessible, all-inclusive, all-ages adventure playgrounds within the LGA. The delivery of parks and playgrounds remains a priority.
- New computers, advanced software and expanded Wi-Fi services are now a reality in our state-of-the-art libraries. A pop up library in Westfield Hurstville, succeeded in taking the library to 1,178 people with 94 new memberships.
- Expanding public WiFi to Kogarah, Riverwood, Kogarah Library Forecourt, Beverly Hills, Hurstville Plaza and Palm Court.
- Supporting and facilitating more than 1750 events, including annual flagship major events: Australia Day, Lunar New Year and Magic of Christmas, attracting 340,000 people, in accordance with the arts and culture which demonstrates the identity of our community.
- Actively advocating in addressing the problem of homelessness and rough sleeping, by building partnerships for homeless persons, to provide showers, laundry services and meals.
- Opening and operating two new childcare centres, as well as five long day care centres, reflecting our commitment in the care of children.
- Endorsing and implementing a $47 million Economic and Social Recovery program in response to the impact of COVID-19.
Council demonstrated impressive resilience, professionalism and flexibility during this period of change and continued to deliver excellent services to the community. We will continue to advocate for much needed infrastructure and services from the NSW Government such as transport and housing for our growing communities.
I thank the staff, who under the leadership of General Manager Gail Connolly, do a fantastic job across the whole range of activities.
It is with this strong team that we work towards our goal of being the best performing council in New South Wales.
