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 uses a short Channel 9 news appearance as the hook, but the real focus is Mayor George Greiss’ broader message about the structural transport challenges facing Campbelltown and South Western Sydney. It explains that while the TV segment framed the issue narrowly — a call for reimbursement after a major traffic jam — Greiss’ full statement was more policy-driven and less sensational. The article then publishes his media release, where he positions the incident as a clear example of the region’s dependence on private vehicles and the daily financial burden of toll roads for residents commuting across the M7, M8 and M5.
Greiss links the issue to evidence, citing transport affordability figures and data showing slower bus travel times and gaps in access to reliable public transport across the LGA. He argues that as housing growth accelerates, government must treat infrastructure and job creation as essential, not optional — warning that population growth without local employment and sustainable transport investment will worsen inequality and reduce liveability. Overall, the piece frames Greiss as a mayor using real-world events to push a consistent message: planning must be matched by infrastructure, fairness, and long-term city-shaping strategy.
Read more → Population growth without local jobs will be a disaster