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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At a Glance
• Significant advocacy secured over 47 million dollars in state and federal grant funding
• Comprehensive groundwork laid for a full review of the Campbelltown Local Environmental Plan
• Return of major festivals signals renewed civic energy after pandemic disruption
• Strong institutional preparation for sustainable growth in 2023 and beyond
Gratitude and Resilience
As the year draws to a close, I would first like to acknowledge the dedication of Council staff, management and my fellow Councillors. This year required resilience. As we emerged from the Covid 19 pandemic, unprecedented rainfall tested our infrastructure and our capacity.
While Campbelltown avoided the devastating flooding experienced elsewhere, sustained rain placed considerable pressure on our road network and delayed project delivery. Combined with supply chain disruption and backlog from lockdowns, it has required disciplined recovery.
I will present a fuller account of achievements early next year once the data is consolidated. Today, I wish to highlight the foundations we are laying for the Campbelltown of the future: a city defined by opportunity, culture and innovation in the Macarthur region.
Advocacy with Measurable Outcomes
Effective advocacy must be structured, persistent and evidence based. Over the past year we wrote more than 150 letters to Ministers and Shadow Ministers across state and federal governments and participated in over 30 direct meetings at state level.
The results are tangible. We secured more than 45 million dollars in NSW Government funding and over 2 million dollars from the Commonwealth. We await further announcements under WestInvest and remain optimistic.
We also strengthened alliances with neighbouring councils, recognising that regional advocacy often carries greater weight than isolated voices. The establishment of the Strategic Advocacy Group has further sharpened our focus on catalytic projects such as the Community and Justice Precinct.
As we approach the March 2023 State election, our priorities are clearly articulated and endorsed by Council. Advocacy, however, must be matched by preparation. It is not sufficient to request support. We must ensure that our legal and policy frameworks are ready to implement transformative investment.
Preparing the Legal Framework for Growth
Over the past year we have developed or endorsed a substantial body of strategic work to guide Campbelltown’s evolution. This includes our Community Strategic Plan, Resilience Hazard Assessment, Integrated Place Based Transport Strategy, Net Zero Strategy, feasibility studies, voluntary planning agreement policy, active transport plan, city centre structure planning and multiple precinct frameworks.
We have also contributed to metropolitan and regional strategies shaping Western Sydney. These efforts are not isolated documents. They are interconnected building blocks.
Today marks a significant moment as we commence the review and amendment of the Campbelltown Local Environmental Plan 2015. This process will consolidate years of strategic thinking into a coherent statutory framework. Quarterly updates will ensure transparency and accountability.
An LEP review demands careful judgement. It requires balancing ambition with practicality and aligning local character with metropolitan expectations. We will initially focus on the Campbelltown CBD before extending the review across the broader city.
Private planning proposals and development applications demonstrate that the market has responded to the clarity provided by Reimagining Campbelltown. Engagement with the private sector will continue in parallel with the LEP review.
This is a critical junction in the development of our city and will knit together all the urban planning work that has been done not just by the Council but also by the State Government to deliver a comprehensive legal framework.
Those words capture the significance of this phase.
Strengthening Community Engagement
In October we placed the draft Community Engagement Strategy on public exhibition. Meaningful engagement must evolve. Next year we will deepen consultation mechanisms, including the launch of new public forums to broaden participation.
Consultation is not procedural compliance. It is the foundation of trust. As growth accelerates, ensuring that residents understand and shape decisions will remain essential.
The Return of Civic Life
One of the most heartening developments this year has been the return of major festivals and community gatherings. Ingleburn Alive, Chill Fest, NAIDOC celebrations, FEAST, the Fisher’s Ghost Festival and the Fun Run have restored vibrancy to our public spaces.
The return of these events reflects more than programming. It signals recovery. It reminds us that cities are not defined solely by infrastructure and policy, but by shared experience.
As Campbelltown grows, we must invest in facilities capable of hosting significant cultural and civic events. I have asked the General Manager to investigate additional spaces suited to this purpose.
Financial and Organisational Alignment
Advocacy and planning must be supported by organisational capability. Throughout the year we have aligned resources, strengthened internal structures and prepared for the demands of growth. Sustainable expansion requires both vision and capacity.
Our objective remains clear: to ensure that Campbelltown prospers not only in scale but in quality of life.
Reflection
This year has tested our resilience and affirmed our ambition. We have strengthened advocacy, advanced strategic planning, revitalised civic life and prepared the statutory framework necessary for long term growth. As we move into 2023, the task shifts from preparation to delivery. With discipline, collaboration and community trust, Campbelltown will continue its evolution as the capital of opportunity and culture for the Macarthur region.
With the festive season upon us, I extend my sincere wishes to our staff, Councillors and residents for a restful and safe Christmas and New Year. I look forward to continuing our momentum together.
Read the original Mayoral Minute here: [16. Thank You and Looking Forward to 2023