Is Ku-ring-gai a green grid?
Ku-ring-gai Council resolved to place the draft Ku-ring-gai Green Grid Strategy on public exhibition at its meeting of 17 December 2024.
FOKE
Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment
Welcome to FOKE
Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment is a community group dedicated to the conservation and protection of Ku-ring-gai’s built and natural environment. On behalf of residents we work for the maintenance of Ku-ring-gai’s built and natural heritage and the enhancement of its existing character and amenity.
Affordable Options?
Ku-ring-gai Council resolved to put on public exhibition an Affordable Housing Options Paper and Draft Affordable Housing Policy at its meeting of 17 December 2024.
How many trees can you plant in a dual occupancy?
Ku-ring-gai Council will meet with the DPHI to discuss options. Will they discuss space for trees?
Petition for Wahroonga HCA
319 residents signed a petition against a commercial development at 16 Burns Road, Wahroonga. Now deadline for submissions is 2 January 2025.
Sydney is geologically beautiful
Congratulations to Dr John Martin on his new book The Geology and Flora of the Sydney Basin.
Invertebrate extinction crisis
A new study says Australia's extinction crisis is far worse than previously recognised.
Lizard Rock now hangs on RFS
Instead of making a determination opposing the rezoning of Lizard Rock, the North Sydney Planning Panel has made a 'majority decision' to continue to liaise with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS)
Will Minns change his mind?
Minns is preparing to scale back his politically contentious "missing middle" housing reforms - that will devastate Ku-ring-gai's Heritage Conservation Areas
FOKE’s Submission – TOD Alternative Scenarios
Read FOKE's Submission to Ku-ring-gai Council's public exhibition of alternative scenarios to the Transport Oriented Development (TOD)
Vale Bill Jones
Bill Jones was an extraordinary Ku-ring-gai bushcare volunteer who lived his life knowing how precious Ku-ring-gai's forests and bushland are
FOKE opposes Patyegarang (Lizard Rock) rezoning
FOKE gave evidence to North Planning Panel Chair, opposing the rezoning of Patyegarang (Lizard Rock) at Belrose on 9 December 2024.
Mediation or Capitulation?
Ku-ring-gai Council on 5 December 2024 stated it “welcomed a NSW Government statement supporting the Council developing alternative locally-responsive planning controls in the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) precincts at Roseville,
Council’s Secret Deal?
It has been revealed by the SMH that Ku-ring-gai Council will work with the NSW Government to deliver tens of thousands of apartments after reaching a confidential agreement
Minns referred to ICAC
The ABC understands NSW Premier Chris Minns will be referred to the state's corruption watchdog over his relationship with one of the key figures behind the redevelopment of Rosehill Racecourse.
Threat to Wahroonga HCA
Submission deadline for a private long day centre at 16 Burns Road, Wahroonga eDA0478/24 is now open until 2 January 2025
Minns’ Ghettos of the Future
NSW government-released housing designs allow for speedier development approval but have been savaged on social media, with some likening them to “slums” and “ghettos”.
Councillor Conduct
Read FOKE's comments on the proposed changes to the Code of Conduct and Meeting Practices
Video explaining Alterative TOD Scenarios
Watch the video of Ku-ring-gai Council's 'Planning for better outcomes, Alternative Scenarios to the TOD SEPP, On-line Forum 21 November 2024'
Information about the FIVE Scenarios
Ku-ring-gai Council is presenting information forums on five Transport Oriented Development (TOD) rezoning scenario proposals around Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon stations.
End Domination of Nature
Philipp Blom, author of ‘Subjugate the Earth: The Beginning and End of Human Domination of Nature’ says if we are to survive we must urgently move away from the Bronze
PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in Ku-ring-gai?
A new study found a specific type of "forever chemical" is more prevalent than expected in firefighting foams that were once widely used across Australia. Researchers say the findings underline
Important dates
VISIT US AT THE GORDON MARKETS
FOKE will have a stall at the Gordon Markets on Sunday 8th December from 8am to 2pm.
The Alternative Transport Oriented Development (TOD) SEPP Scenarios NOW ON Exhibition until Tuesday 17 December.
You can find out more about the Scenario details, attend online and in-person public meetings in November and December, and provide feedback. Follow this link Housing Scenarios.
If you live within 800 metres of Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon stations. This will affect you!
Community Strategic Plan
Council is seeking feedback on this important document that will determine Ku-ring-gai’s goals and priorities going forward. You can review the Plan and provide feedback here.
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Friends of Kuringgai Environment
FOKE is a community group with a focus across the Ku-ring-gai area, defending our natural heritage and opposing inappropriate overdevelopment.
FOKE’s Submission – TOD Alternative Scenarios – FOKE – Friends of Kuringai Environment
www.foke.org.au
FOKE’s Submission – TOD Alternative Scenarios Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment Inc. TOD Alternate Scenarios submission 10^J.12.24Download Stay in TouchSign up for FOKE E-News HEREinfo@foke.org.a...
www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-04/nsw-premier-chris-minns-referred-icac-rosehill-racecourse/104686108![]()
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The ABC report states in short:![]()
"The ABC understands NSW Premier Chris Minns will be referred to the state's corruption watchdog over his relationship with one of the key figures behind the redevelopment of Rosehill Racecourse.![]()
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The premier said the decision by a parliamentary committee chaired by a Liberal MP is "disgraceful" and based on "completely unsubstantiated" allegations and a minister said he hoped the ICAC wasn't being "weaponised".![]()
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The decision concerns Mr Minns's relationship with Steve McMahon, head of government relations at the Australian Turf Club, the organisation which owns the site."
NSW GOVERNMENT PLANNING ON STERIODS www.realestate.com.au/news/ghettos-of-the-future-public-slams-chris-minns-housing-designs/![]()
‘Ghettos of the future’: Public slams Chris Minns’ housing designs'![]()
The article goes on to state: "NSW government-released housing designs that will allow for speedier development approval have been savaged on social media, with some likening them to “slums” and “ghettos”.![]()
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The six pre-approved designs, announced by NSW Premier Chris Minns last week, were selected by a five-person government jury based on criteria such as sustainability, affordability and adaptability.![]()
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The pattern book of housing configurations includes designs for three types of terraces, along with three styles of mid-level apartment block."![]()
This type development is proposed within 800 meters of every rail station in Ku-ring-gai through the Low and Mid Rise SEPP. However, the Productivity Commission August Report to the State Government is proposing much higher development of 5-8 storeys such as in the TOD Tier 2 areas of Ku-ring-gai! Ku-ring-gai Council's proposed 3b alternative TOD scenario also will allow 5-8 storey development within 800 meters of Lindfield and Gordon stations which will set a precedent for the rest of Ku-ring-gai if adopted!
www.foke.org.au/housing-pushing-out-wildlife/![]()
Ku-ring-gai residents have been invited to comment on the public exhibition of alternative scenarios to the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) that rezones 400 metres around Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon until 17 December 2024.![]()
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Ku-ring-gai Council has based its alternative scenarios on seven principles including avoiding environmentally sensitive areas.![]()
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Yet Ku-ring-gai as a collective whole, with its wildlife corridors, canopy trees, and threatened species is one large environmentally sensitive area.![]()
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Ku-ring-gai is the ‘middle ring’ that connects wildlife from the western side of the railway line (Lane Cove National Park) to the eastern side (Lane Cove National Park). Even the bushland along the railway corridor has NSW Government signage identifying the fenced off bushland as “environmentally sensitive land”.![]()
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One of the challenges in responding to the alternative TOD scenarios is the framing of the NSW planning system that has historically refused to recognise Ku-ring-gai’s environmentally sensitivity and the cumulative damage of successive decades of habitat loss as a result of housing densification.![]()
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Knocking down one house means the loss of trees. Knocking down 30 houses along a street means the loss of perhaps 50 trees. Knocking down every house within 400 metres of Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon will be catastrophic for wildlife. It is common to see, even 30 metres from Gordon Railway Station, bush turkeys, rosellas, king parrots and king fishers and possums.![]()
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Ku-ring-gai Council’s data shows that Ku-ring-gai lost 1.4% of its tree canopy between 2020 and 2022. The Council’s Urban Forest Strategy aims to increase the canopy cover to 49% by 2036, which means planting an additional 44,000 trees. How can this achieved with an additional 23,200 dwellings to be built in the next 15 years?![]()
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Ku-ring-gai is one of the few remaining suburbs that contains houses surrounded by front and back gardens. This residential housing type across established Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane suburbs is fast disappearing, being bulldozed for ‘in-fill’ low-to-high rise apartments. To build these apartments the tree covered gardens have been felled, bulldozed, subdivided and replaced by hard surfaces. This urban densification increases population pressures on suburbs with increased traffic congestion and demands on water, sewerage and energy infrastructure. Where once wildlife was abundant. They now disappear. Their homes have been displaced by concrete. The fragmentation of habitat makes life more threatening to them. Read the article on FOKE website as to what is happening in Queensland to displaced koalas.
www.foke.org.au/video-explaining-alterative-scenarios-2/![]()
the Ku-ring-gai Council video prepared for residents wishing to know more about the 4 alternative TOD scenarios which are on public exhibition until 17 December 2024
Video explaining Alterative TOD Scenarios – FOKE – Friends of Kuringai Environment
www.foke.org.au
This web site is maintained by FOKE to disseminate information without charge for the benefit of the community. While all reasonable care is taken in maintaining the site, FOKE accepts no liability or...