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 a wide-ranging interview with Mayor George Greiss in his first months in office, focused on major inherited delivery challenges and the practical realities of project timelines. Greiss explains that the Campbelltown Billabong project will not be ready for the coming summer, citing setbacks from Covid and weather, and notes council is reassessing the timeline with a possible opening in winter 2023. The piece also references the delayed sports centre of excellence, including changes to the proposed location and ongoing funding discussions with the state government.
Alongside these larger projects, the article highlights Greiss’ emphasis on visible, local improvements — particularly a new maintenance program aimed at lifting the quality of parks, reserves, streets and public furniture. Greiss frames this as a “small things” strategy that directly affects how residents experience their neighbourhoods, while also linking city presentation to pride, liveability and long-term confidence. The article also touches on WestInvest funding and Greiss’ preference for smaller, place-based projects distributed across the community.
Read more → Campbelltown Billabong may open in winter 2023, says new mayor