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FOKE is a community group with membership drawn from across Ku-ring-gai, opposing inappropriate and unsympathetic overdevelopment within Ku-ring-gai, and defending and promoting the cultural and natural heritage of Ku-ring-gai.
FOKE is not anti-development. We work on behalf of residents and friends for the maintenance of Ku-ring-gai’s heritage and the enhancement of the existing traditional character and amenity of its environment, both built and natural.
ADVANCE NOTICE FOKE AGM
The FOKE AGM will be on Wednesday 23 May 2018 at the Uniting Church Hall, Killara at 6.30 pm. We are pleased to confirm that David Morris, CEO of the Environment Defenders Office NSW, will be our guest speaker at the Public Forum following the AGM.
Celebrating the National Trust Heritage Festival 2018
Once again FOKE will be participating in the National Trust Heritage Festival with 3 Guided Walks around Ku-ring-gai on May 12, 13 and 19. On May 20 there will be a Ku-ring-gai Matters lunch with speakers discussing why it is time to world heritage list Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, the second national park in NSW in 1894, and one of the first in the world. Find out more details here.
Loss of more Ku-ring-gai Community Assets - Turramurra
In February, Ku-ring-gai Councillors voted to consign another Public Asset for development. Council planners recommended to allow development of the small green space in Turramurra, known as the Little Village Green. This is despite the recommendation of an independent inquiry to retain this space in the middle of a future massive town-hub development. This vote illustrates the development-driven system that the residents of NSW are enduring under the current State Government. Last September, the Lindfield Library and Senior Centre site were reclassified as operational land by Ku-ring-gai Council. Overall 25 community assets have now been reclassified by our Council to pay predominantly for the purchase of their new administation building. These so-called “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.
With all these sites being rationalised for more highrise development, where will the community facilities and public spaces exist for current and future generations' benefit and use? With an increasing population and high costs to repurchase land when needed, this is short term thinking in the extreme. More».
NSW Government's Council Amalgamation Push lacks validity The NSW Government has backed away from the amalgamation threat to Ku-ring-gai and a small number of other city Councils. However we remain concerned that this may still be a longer term policy of the Local Government Minister. The proposal to amalgamate council areas makes many assumptions which are not backed by evidence. Mayor Abelson from Mosman is an economist and has co-authored an interesting and thought-provoking paper called Smoke and Mirrors on the forced amalgamation issue. To read the summary presentation, click here Smoke & Mirrors Presentation 2015. To download the full report, click here Smoke & Mirrors Report.
See also our latest newsletter For copies of all our newsletters, visit our newsletter archive.
Check out our latest Media Releases , detailing the detailing the fight to save the heritage gardens at the listed Gordon Railway Station. Media Release 4 March 2018