The removal of several of the famous Beverly HIlls palm trees highlights the urgent need for renewal and fair prioritisation of the suburb.

Residents deeply value the Beverly Hills iconic palms. For decades they have shaped the character, identity and first impression of Beverly Hills. They are part of our suburb's visual heritage and we believe their significance deserves formal recognition.

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For residents, this issue goes beyond iconic tree removal. It highlights a much broader concern: the urgent need for renewal and fair prioritisation of Beverly Hills. Our community has long supported the vision of a vibrant, safe and thriving local centre. Yet recent decisions suggest a pattern of unequal treatment compared with neighbouring suburbs in the Georges River area. There is a growing perception that strategic direction, staff resources and funding are being prioritised elsewhere. We are seeing significant momentum directed toward the Mortdale and Riverwood Master Plans and the Penshurst Town Centre Refresh - projects that appear to have moved ahead despite the Beverly Hills Master Plan released publicly since 2020.

Proposed 12-storey buildings in Riverwood are now being considered within the same pipeline buffer that has imposed strict land-use limitations in Beverly Hills. Recent examples only reinforce these concerns. The removal of flood planning tags in Blakehurst and Kogarah Bay occurred following consultation and engagement with those communities.

Beverly Hills residents have not been afforded the same level of consultation or opportunity, yet we continue to carry planning burdens without a clear pathway to resolution. The community's message is simple: fairness, equality and action. Beverly Hills must no longer be overlooked.

Scenic Foreshore Protection Area

I refer to the 'Letter to the Editor' in the St George version of The Leader of 15 th April, 2026 headed "Two tier LGA: forces housing crisis sprawl'.

I wish to state that it is disappointing to see Councillor Wang in his first sentence, criticising a fellow Georges River Councillor and not supporting his own Council's Planning Proposal for preserving the Scenic Foreshore Protection Area (FSPA). Only recently he was also advocating for the removal of Council's Heritage Conservation Areas in Hurstville and Penshurst.

I would point out to Councillor Wang that the FSPA maps as shown in Council's Local Environmental Plan (LEP) are not located in 'highly accessible inland suburbs near transport hubs' as he quotes. The FSPA areas of Lugarno peninsular, Peakhurst Heights, Mortdale Heights and Oatley, west of Gungah Bay Road are not major transport hubs, as Councillor Wang infers. In fact, the FSPA only covers a very small percentage of the entire Local Government Area (LGA) in sensitive environmental areas of these suburbs.

Georges River Council (GRC) is greatly affected by the NSW State Government's Low to Mid-Rise (LMR) Housing Policy with the potential to burden our suburbs withbover 11,000 new dwellings without any infrastructure to cater for this.

However, GRC is still committed to increasing its housing stocks. The Draft Riverwood Masterplan and the Mortdale Masterplan were both presented to Councillors at the last GRC Committee Meeting and when ratified these areas will not only see more housing provided but includes a parallel framework for infrastructure delivery, public domain improvements, transport upgrades and community facility planning. All the essential items missing from the NSW State Government's LMR Housing Policy, which Councillor Wang so passionately espouses. Councillor Wang represents the residents of Hurstville Ward, which has the lowest area of green public space in the whole LGA of Georges River.

The state of Forest Road, Arncliffe

Recent road repair across Forest Road near corner Mount Street Arncliffe is concave and crumbling.Third world at best.Constant thumping noise when traffic passes over it keeps locals awake. The 'repair' is also adjacent to a popular child daycare centre.If they are going to use local roads as pseudo motorways then the least the government can do is maintain them to a safe and reasonable standard.I was unable to upload a photo which needs to been seen to be believed. Two complaints to council over the last couple of months resulted in no action being taken. Please help bring this matter to the publics attention in the hope we can get a fair a resolution.

Honouring those who served

Over five years I was privileged to attend NAIDOC Week activities at Hurstville Library. During that time I met many Indigenous people with connections to Peakhurst Aboriginal Settlement and listened to their story. I am overjoyed to see the face of World War One serviceman Thomas Williams, an honoured citizen of Peakhurst. At one meeting we sat and listened as Thomas' daughter related her life in a dwelling in Peakhurst during 1920s 1930s. surrounded by her Peakhurst schoolmates who attended and confirmed life at that time.

Thomas Williams was a stockman from Western N.S.W. When war broke out he and his mate mounted their horses and rode to the nearest enlistment centre, and went to serve a nation who did not acknowledge them as citizens. They were Lighthorsemen who took their beloved horses to the Middle East to save us all from a National enemy.

We heard of Thomas' war service during the Charge of Beersheba in the ancient deserts of Palestine. Family said he had bayonet scars from this famous battle which freed Jerusalem and Damascus.

Returning to Sydney, he married and they moved to Peakhurst where he lived in a dwelling near the present Catholic Church , working for J.J Hannon, Hurstville Council's garbage and sanitation contractor. He had a gift with horses. His son, Thomas, was an outstanding student at Peakhurst Public School and was recommended to be Dux of the school but in those racist days, the school inspector advised as he was aboriginal, he could not receive this recognition. A daughter of JJ Hannon continued to become angry on this matter many years later. When Thomas died, the "Hurstville Propeller" newspaper carried his death notice. Thankfully we have moved on as a Nation and it is good to acknowledge an Indigenous serviceman and honour a greatly loved citizen and family so many years later.

Oatley RSL Anzac tribute mural

This powerful mural is a fitting tribute to three extraordinary local ANZAC heroes whose courage and sacrifice helped shape our nation.

Their stories are now permanently honoured in the heart of our community at Oatley RSL Sub-Branch.

I congratulate everyone involved in bringing this remarkable project to life. Oatley RSL Sub-Branch has created something truly special for our community and a powerful reminder of the price paid for the freedoms we enjoy today. This mural stands as a permanent statement that Oatley remembers. We honour those who served, we preserve their stories, and we ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten.

Penshurst gardener's pumpkin

That's a nice, feel good story, nothing to argue about, nothing but a lovely story, and a very proud gentleman. Thank you, it has made a nice change considering the overall outlook.