Georges River Council faces state pressure over urban master plans

Georges River Council is navigating conflicting planning visions for Mortdale and Beverly Hills following directives from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI).

In Mortdale, the DPHI has requested the withdrawal of the council’s Local Centre Master Plan. State planners argued the current proposal, which features four to six-storey buildings, does not provide sufficient housing uplift. While the plan aimed to create capacity for 773 new dwellings, the DPHI recommended investigating higher density options. Council staff have recommended a course of action that retains existing work while allowing for future density assessments through broader strategic processes.

In Beverly Hills, the council has endorsed a draft Town Centre Master Plan for a 42-day public exhibition. This plan proposes approximately 1,345 dwellings and 965 jobs over the next 20 years. This local initiative follows a state government rezoning proposal for the Beverly Hills Town Centre (West) area, which would allow for towers of 15 to 22 storeys. The council has sought to ensure local strategic planning guides development rather than state-led or developer-initiated proposals.