Ben Wang 王斌

Hurstville Plaza came alive with renewed energy on Sunday, 11 January 2026, as the Georges River Association (GRA) hosted the first Hurstville Night Market of the year.

The market opened with a tribute to the victims of the Bondi Beach attack on December 14 last year.

[16th January 2026 Leader] Culinary triumphs and tributes: Hurstville Night Market kicks off 2026 (view file)

Hurstville's popular night markets are set to become a permanent fixture.

This week's meeting of Georges River Council endorsed the continuation of the Hurstville night markets to support the local night-time economy and cultural vibrancy.

[19th November 2025 Leader] Hurstville Night Markets are here to stay

You can't get more Chinese than Bruce Lee, and you can't get more Aussie than AFL. One is a martial arts icon whose influence crossed continents; the other is our beloved national sport that unites people from every walk of life. Yet here in Hurstville, these identities don't clash-they complement each other. They symbolise exactly what the Georges River community stands for: a seamless, confident multicultural society-living, working, and growing together.

[12th November 2025 Leader] AFL meets Bruce Lee at Hurstville Night Market (view file)

Hurstville Corps recently hosted its second ‘Many Cultures, One Hope’ event at Hurstville Plaza in southern Sydney, uniting diverse communities in a celebration of music, dance and prayer.

[6th Nov 2025 Savosonine] Modern-day ‘open air’ meeting attracts hundreds in Hurstville

With community collaboration and a vision for sustainable growth, I’m confident O’Briens Estate can lead the way in balancing heritage and housing for Sydney’s future.

[4th Sep 2025 90.1NBCFM] Councillor Ben Wang - Independent View - on O’Briens Estate: Balancing Heritage and Housing in Hurstville

Residents are preparing a petition calling on Council and the NSW Government to reassess HCA boundaries in areas like O'Brien's Estate; provide a clear, fast-tracked DA pathway within HCAs under the LMR; and lobby the NSW government to consider TOD zoning within 400 metres of Hurstville Station.

[19th Aug 2025 Leader] Bruce's estate of disrepair: Hurstville residents petition for lifting of heritage restrictions

Rain couldn’t dampen the spirit at Hurstville Plaza last Saturday night – in fact, it made the 8th Hurstville Night Market even more magical!

[15th Aug 2025 Leader] Love in the rain: Hurstville Night Market's romantic twist for International Youth Day

The Bruce Lee statue stands for more than just Bruce Lee himself, it represents the voice and values of Chinese Australians, and our pride in multiculturalism.

[16th July 2025 Leader] From a bronze statue gift to a significant cultural festival

The Hurstville Public School P&C is raising money for a unique Sensory Play Space Project to be built in the school grounds for students and the local community. This will be a unique space for students as far as we know there are currently no other Sensory Play Spaces in the St George area. Equipment will include an abacus play wall and musical items such as a timber chime bridge, a Glockenspiel panel and a jungle drum.

The P&C's ex-president Sui Kim and I organised a fundraising for the project on the federal election day.

[7th May 2025 Leader] Democracy sausage sizzle helps in Hurstville Public School's Sensory Play Space project

Building on the success of the previous three markets, this Easter-themed edition marked another significant step toward establishing Hurstville as a thriving night-time destination in the Georges River region. The market has become a springboard for local pride and economic revival, with many young people sharing renewed interest in returning to or investing in the Hurstville area.

[24th April 2025 Leader] Voices unite in harmony at Hurstville Easter Night Market

[15th April 2025 Leader] Easter Night Market for Hurstville

A year ago, I proposed the idea of a night market in Hurstville, and today, I’m thrilled to see how it has grown into a vibrant community event!

Thank you to everyone who has supported and participated in these events—vendors, performers, volunteers, and attendees. Let’s continue making Hurstville the cultural and economic hub of Sydney’s south!

[19th March 2025 Leader] Third Hurstville Night Market sizzles

In the opening speech, I highlighted the significance of The 16th Sydney Oriental Spring Festival Gala: "It marks the starting point for Sydney's 2025 Lunar New Year celebrations. Together, we celebrate the first Lunar New Year after UNESCO officially recognized the Lunar New Year as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is a historic moment, and we are honoured to witness it here in Hurstville. "

[7th Jan 2025 Leader] Gala welcomes in Year of the Snake at Hurstville

I submitted a formal Question with Notice to the council (QWN029-24) addressing safety, maintenance, and amenity improvements for Woodville Park.

Woodville Park is a vibrant and cherished public space, frequented by hundreds daily for recreation, exercise, and socializing, However, with the increased influx of users following the Kempt Field closure, maintaining this essential green space has become a pressing issue. We must prioritize immediate upgrades to improve safety and usability for all visitors. A well-maintained park not only enhances community well-being but also ensures this space remains accessible to everyone.

[16th Dec 2024 Leader] Residents call for action on Woodville Park, Hurstville

[2nd Dec 2024 Leader] Hurstville's Taste of Shunde restaurant awarded Chef Hat

[10th Oct 2024 Leader] Twilight celebration at Hurstville's inaugural night markets

[23th Sep 2024 Leader] 'Emotional' time for residents as Kempt Field closes

[13th Sep 2024 Leader] Hurstville Night Market to be a 'global cultural celebration'

[23rd August 2024 Leader] Taking it beyond party politics: the only independent team for Georges River

[5th August 2024 Leader] Tougher fines needed for dumped trolleys, council told

[15th July 2024 Leader] Bruce Lee commemoration at Kogarah Town Square

[10th July 2024 Leader] Bruce Lee festival returns to Kogarah

[1st July 2024 Leader] Georges River increases number of development approvals

[3rd June 2024 Leader] Prioritise people over dogs, council told

[8th May 2023 Leader] Hurstville Salvation Army launches 2023 Red Shield Appeal