The Georges River Record

Councillor Wang, who moved the motion, said the plan offers a win for the council, a win for the state government and above all a win for the community.

Speaking to the motion, Councillor Wang said Beverly Hills is visibly deteriorating and that the community's patience has run out. The motion also acknowledged three doctors who addressed a community meeting the week before in support of the motion; Councillor Wang said some community members were in the gallery for the vote. The vote was taken by division and the motion was carried.

Earlier, council dealt with the Peakhurst West Public School Swimming Pool. Councillor Lu moved a motion seconded by Councillor Mort. It was lost.

Councillor Lansbury then suggested a minor change to the original motion, to describe the transfer as being to a new private operator. Councillor Lu and Councillor Mort, the seconder, accepted it. The motion as amended was carried on a division.

Councillor Marnie moved a motion on the poisoning of trees at a reserve on Boundary Road in Peakhurst, seconded by Councillor Allison. Councillor Marnie described the park as a lesser known one on busy Boundary Road just east of Forest Road, opposite the industrial zone, well stocked with trees and with lawns meticulously maintained by council staff. Councillor Marnie said it came as quite a shock to discover four mature specimens in a row had been poisoned, and Councillor Allison said the trees satisfy all four criteria for significance and that their inclusion in the significant tree register needs to be revisited. The motion was carried.

Council also considered a quarterly budget review report for the period ending 31 March 2026, deferred from the Finance and Governance Committee held on 11 May. Councillor Jameson moved the staff recommendation and asked questions. The Director of Business and Corporate Services said the review tracks performance against the 2025/26 budget and that both budgets are still tracking within the two to three million dollar operating surplus target, and encouraged people to look at the draft 2026/27 budget, which closes on 27 May. Asked about the Penshurst retaining wall and the Penshurst park fencing, the Director of Assets and Infrastructure said the retaining wall design was completed in December and approved in February, it is in procurement with works expected to start in July, and the fence received planning approval in December, had one unsuccessful procurement round, and works are similarly expected to start in July. The motion was carried.

The meeting closed at 8.52pm. The mayor thanked council staff and members of the gallery for attending.