Current Issues

• Liberal's Broken Promise. Forced take-over of Ku-ring-gai by Hornsby Council
  Despite overwhelming opposition from Ku-ring-gai Councillors and residents, on 18th December 2015 Premier Baird stated his resolution to force Councils to amalgamate, breaking a pre-election promise not to do so. In addition, as his Government, and our two Liberal representatives are aware, these forced amalgamations would not gain the support of the Upper House. So the path to achieving his end of fewer Councils and less resident representation in his aim of a high growth agenda will be via changing electoral boundaries.
  The long-awaited KPMG report which we had hoped will highlight some detailed cost-benefit analysis, has now been quarantined as 'Commercial in Confidence'! To date, there is no data to support claims that these amalgamations will save money and add to infrastructure as Baird claims. In an attempt to rush these changes through, this Liberal Government has started the process, not with facts but with a misleading advertising campaign. Therehave been rallies against these forced amalgamations across NSW, leaving no doubt that the public, and most Councils are against this action by the heavay handed Baird Government. Follow us on Facebook for up-to-date information. www.facebook.com/friendsofkuringgai
  Ku-ring-gai Council has repeatedly shown that it can stand alone. More information is available on the Ku-ring-gai Council website Forced Council Amalgamatons. Also please read the Message from Foke's President, Kathy Cowley and the Press Release from Save our Councils Coalition, a cross-council, multi-community, non-aligned campaign group. See also our July 2016 newsletter for more information.
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  Single Dwelling Zoning Under Threat
  The NSW Government is currently proposing to make medium density development into complying development. This means local residents are not notified and are not allowed to comment.. Currently the R3 zone has been designed to deliver medium density. The proposed plan is to allow medium density development on all residential (single dwelling) R2 land in NSW with a street frontage of 12.5m or more and a minimum lot size of 400sqm.
  The medium density housing could be: a) Two dwelling (dual occupancies) on a single lot of 400sqm, b) Three to four dwellings (manor homes) on a single lot of , c) Three to ten dwellings on a single lot of 600sqm. This proposal applies a blanket rezoning for medium density (with minor exceptions) to all low-density residential R2 land. It does not take into account the cumulative effects of intensifying development on local infrastructure, services, traffic, street car parking, social services and amenities. It overrides local environment plans and again centralises planning conttrols to the detriment of residents. Please contact your local MP to voice your opposition.

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  Bairds weakening of Biodiversity LawsPremier Baird's Biodiversity Conservation Act, recently released, is set to fast-track land-clearing approvals to appease big agribusiness and property developers. Before the election, Premier Mike Baird committed to “enhancing the state's biodiversity to benefit current and future generations”, but again he has broken his promise in favour of his pro-development agenda to weaken our nature protection laws. It proposes a much reduced Biodiversity Conservation Act to replace the Native Vegetation Act and the Threatened Species Act. It plans to weaken the state's land clearing laws that were introduced in 2003 to stop broad scale land clearing. We need stronger biodiversity laws – not weaker ones. We need a new vision to protect, restore and ensure resilience for our precious biodiversity. See our Media Release , detailing FOKE's arguments against Baird's draft Biodiversity laws Media Release 27 June 2016
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  Loss of more Ku-ring-gai community assets as Council continues extensive reclassification to fund its new administration building
  In November, the Lindfield Library and Senior Centre site was the latest community asset to be reclassified as operational land by Ku-ring-gai Council. Overall 24 community assets have now been reclassified by our Council to pay predominantly for the purchase of their new administation building. The acquisition was to be funded by what Council staff described as the “rationalisation” of 23 “under-utilised” assets, but these are community assets first and foremost.   Some of the 23 “under-utilised assets” included the Culworth Avenue Car Park, Killara; the Lifeline Centre, Gordon; the Gordon Community Pre-school; the Ku-ring-gai Town Hall, Pymble; and various pieces of public land adjacent to East Killara, West Pymble and East Lindfield shops.  Now this has increased to 24, including the Lindfield Library site. More».