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.
Stay in the loop!
In his first interview as Mayor, George Greiss sets out a leadership approach built around participation, transparency, and collaboration — describing a “Team Campbelltown” mindset where councillors and community voices matter. He positions the mayoral role as one of facilitation rather than control, emphasising that decisions should be shaped by the full council and informed by public input, including proposed community forums. The article also highlights Greiss’ working relationship with Deputy Mayor Warren Morrison and frames his election as both a political shift and a cultural change in how council engages with residents.
The piece also addresses a recurring public concern — that a conservative mayor automatically means “open slather” on development — and Greiss responds by explaining how planning decisions are actually made through planning panels, statutory frameworks, and strategic planning layers, not by a mayor’s personal preference. Overall, it reads as a statement of intent: steady leadership, clearer governance, and a planning-literate approach that aims to rebuild trust and bring more people into the conversation.
Read more → New mayor sets sail for Team Campbelltown approach