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GEORGESGEORGES RIVER RIVER COUNCIL COUNCIL COMMUNITYAUTUMN EDITION 2020 Local legends celebrated in upcoming exhibition WWW.GEORGESRIVER.NSW.GOV.AU f GeorgesRiverCouncil i @grcouncil MAYOR'S MESSAGE What an incredible summer we had, and unfortunately, not for all the right reasons. Firefighters had to dig deep both physically and emotionally to combat the overwhelming fires which blazed across our state and other parts of the country. I know I'm not alone in feeling an enormous sense of gratitude for everyone who has either been in the front line fighting fires, or helping out in other ways. The fires claimed lives and homes, not to mention the terrible impact they’ve had on our flora and fauna. Their ferocity and size was difficult to comprehend, and I have deep admiration for the people who were willing to risk such dangerous conditions to help protect their communities. What incredible work they have done. Council provided financial support through the donation of $10,000 to the Australian Red Cross, and from donations generously given by attendees at Lunar New Year Festival and Australia Day Festival. Money raised was donated to the Australian Red Cross to provide funding for recovery programs and emergency assistance, and we would like to thank everyone who contributed. In early February we had wild and very wet weather, and while there was a lot of disruption due to flooding and other damage caused, the rain was most welcome. Warragamba Dam water levels are now over 80% which is reassuring, however we encourage community members to continue to be water wise. I would like to wish everyone a belated Happy New Year, and hope it will be a positive one for our community. Kevin Greene, Mayor Georges River Council Information and events in this publication are current at the time of printing. Subsequent changes may occur. Georges River Council does not guarantee that this publication is without flaw or wholly appropriate for your purposes. It and its employees expressly disclaim any liability, for any loss or damage, whether direct or consequential, suffered by any person as the result of or arising from reliance on any information contained in the publication. Georges River Council acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land in which the Georges River Local Government Area is situated - the Biddegal people of the Eora nation. 2 | READ ONLINE AT WWW.GEORGESRIVER.NSW.GOV.AU GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL CONTENTS 4. YOUR COUNCIL Proposed changes to Council rates Changes to Development Applications legislation 5. Driving change towards a sustainable future with new electric vehicles 6. INNOVATION New places to chill out 7. Marketing the Georges River Council takes a lead in supporting entrepreneurship in Southern Sydney 8. ENVIRONMENT 9. The buzz with backyard beekeeping 10. Get back to nature with bushcare 11. Local backyards benefit from 115 tonnes of free compost and mulch 12. EVENTS Lunar New Year 2020 13. Australia Day 14. Eat your way through art streets The Dragons come home 15. Youth week set to rock Hurstville in time for April School Holidays 16. GRYLA: Georges River Youth Literature Award 17. Sydney Writers' Festival comes to the Georges River 18. ART AND CULTURE Find your thing at Georges River Libraries 19. Striving for gold at Hurstville Museum & Gallery 20. Explore Hurstville Museum & Gallery's collection online 21. Dragon's Lair Gallery exhibitions See the art behind Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton's popular Many Storey Treehouse series 22. LOCAL HISTORY What’s in a name? - Hurstville 23. WHAT'S ON Be involved in important projects by contributing to Council decisions that shape the future of the Georges River area. YOUR Your feedback matters! Register via Council’s website at SAY yoursay.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au. COMMUNITY | AUTUMN EDITION 2020 | 3 YOUR COUNCIL Proposed changes to Council rates Council undertook comprehensive community consultation supported a minimum rate of $965.80 and 54% were late last year, in order to apply to the Independent Pricing supportive of Council applying to IPART for a 10.6% rate and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a Special Rate Variation increase (SRV of 8.1% plus a rate peg of 2.5%). (SRV), as well as the creation of a consistent minimum rate for all ratepayers. At the Extraordinary Council Meeting on Monday 10 February 2020, Councillors decided not to proceed with an The community consultation regarding the proposed rates application to IPART or the harmonisation of rates at this restructure between September and November was extensive, time, and will review employee costs to reduce expenditure. with more than 6,000 responses received from residents. If you would like to know more about the findings of the The consultation revealed that 78% of respondents were community consultation regarding Council’s proposed rates supportive of introducing a consistent minimum rate, 66% changes please visit Your Say Georges River online. Local Planning Panel or the Sydney Changes to Development South Planning Panel for determination. In making a determination, Council use Applications legislation a peer review process. This ensures that all recommendations made by our assessment officers are reviewed by In March 2018, under changes to direct staff in relation to these matters a senior officer and, where required, the NSW Planning legislation, the the majority of applications are now by the relevant planning panel. This Mayor and Councillors no longer determined under Delegated Authority ensures transparency and consistency have any involvement in determining by Council’s Senior Development & in the recommendations and decisions Development Applications under Building Staff, Manager Development made by our staff. the Environmental Planning and and Building and Director Environment Assessment Act 1979. As the Mayor and Planning, unless they are required The levels of authority are outlined and Councillors are unable to instruct or to be referred to the Georges River generally as follows: Determination Level Types of Applications Considered Sydney South Planning • Value of works over $30 million Panel • Council or Crown Development over $5 million • Private Infrastructure and Community facilities over $5 million Georges River Local • Any Council application less than $5 million Planning Panel • Any application where an Elected Councilor, Member or Parliament (or their relative as defined by the LG Act 1993) is the applicant • Any application where a Council staff member (who is involved in the assessment of applications) is the applicant • Any application with more than 10 unique submissions • Any application which seeks a variation to a Development Standard by more than 10% • ‘Sensitive’ applications including Residential flat buildings, licensed premises, sex service premises, demolition of a heritage item • Any application accompanied by a Voluntary Planning Agreement Council Delegate • All other applications As the Mayor and Councillors do not have a role in the determination of applications, any contact or submission you direct to an elected official may be forwarded to Council’s staff to be taken into consideration during the assessment of an undetermined application. 4 | READ ONLINE AT WWW.GEORGESRIVER.NSW.GOV.AU GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL Electric cars join Council fleet Driving change towards a sustainable future with new electric vehicles Georges River Council is driving change through the also underway, with a March 2020 launch date pending a purchase of two electric cars. The pair of Hyundai Ioniq successful funding bid, which it is hoped will promote the vehicles are 100% electric, and will join Council’s existing uptake of greener vehicles in the local area. fleet of 12 hybrids, with the move aimed at reducing running costs, while bringing Council a step closer towards our As a signatory to the Cities Power Partnership, along with target of net zero carbon emissions across all Council 123 other Council’s from across Australia, Georges River is operations by 2025. committed to investing in innovative solutions on all fronts in order to reduce emissions. Council’s fleet currently account for 10% of our operational carbon emissions and are the organisation’s second largest Solar panels have recently been installed at Kogarah source of greenhouse emissions after electricity. Library, along with power-saving LED lights at Ken Rosewall Tennis Centre at Mordale. Both investments are set to save Recharging stations have been installed at Georges $12,500 and $17,000 respectively while bringing Council River Civic Centre at Hurstville and Mortdale Depot, closer to our 2025 net zero emissions target. with the power to come from renewables. Plans for an electric vehicle charger program for the community is COMMUNITY | AUTUMN EDITION 2020 | 5 INNOVATION New places to chill out Your local lunch spot is sorted, with the opening of three and Street Furniture Australia. The smart hubs also feature world-first ChillOUT Hubs in Mortdale Town Centre, smart furniture, solar power, and environmental sensors. Timothy Reserve Hurstville and Belgrave Street Kogarah. They were funded through the Australian Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program. If you love working outdoors, simply plug your laptop into a charging port, connect to the free wifi and settle in for The public art installed at the site was designed and the day. Each hub has been designed with the community installed by artist Nastia Gladushchenko. and in partnership with the University of New South Wales 6 | READ ONLINE AT WWW.GEORGESRIVER.NSW.GOV.AU GEORGES RIVER COUNCIL Unlocking the potential of the Georges River Marketing the Georges River Dr Hila Oren, CEO of the Tel-Aviv Foundation, visited the Georges River in February, to share insights on marketing and branding. Dr Oren’s schedule included a tour of the Georges River and three new ChillOUT Hubs. Council was joined by partners University of New South Wales and Street Furniture Australia, and fellow councils at a series of events with Dr Oren, in the spirit of knowledge sharing and collaboration.