When I stepped back from Council, I did so with clarity and optimism — not just about where our cities were headed, but about the role planning could play in shaping our future. For over two decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of planning, politics, and community, as a mayor, consultant, and researcher. I’ve seen the power of good planning to create liveable, inclusive, future-ready places. I’ve also seen how easily it can be derailed by short-term thinking — and how costly that can be for clients, communities, and councils alike. Greiss Planning exists to bring clarity, rigour, and steady leadership to the approvals process, so good projects can move forward with confidence.
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This article reports on Mayor George Greiss announcing the official opening of the Campbelltown Billabong Parklandson Saturday, June 8, describing it as a major community celebration with free access and ticketed events allocated via ballot. Greiss explains that when he inherited the project after becoming Mayor in January 2022, he made a clear decision: the origin story and controversy weren’t the priority — the priority was delivering what council had already committed to, because “there was no turning back.” The piece frames the opening as a symbolic end-point to a long and difficult delivery process.
The article also recaps why the Billabong has been so contested: cost escalations, additional works (including filtration and drainage), and delays caused by pandemic impacts, wet weather, and contractor changes. It notes Greiss’ earlier recorded opposition to extra funding decisions, while emphasising his later approach of respecting past resolutions and focusing on completion. The overall tone shifts from controversy to closure, with Greiss encouraging the community to put the disputes behind them and treat the opening as a shared milestone and new local attraction.
Read more → Drum roll: Campbelltown Billabong to finally open, on June 8