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
Articles
Current & past articles
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
13 minute council meetings?
Ku-ring-gai Council meeting on Tuesday 26 November 2024 closed after only 13 minutes with no questions or debate
Ku-ring-gai in Climate Danger
The CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology has released its State of the Climate 2024 Report which confirms that we are not living in an era of climate consequences
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
Castle Hill locals slam Deicorp plan to build housing towers
Castle Hill residents oppose plans to build towers containing nearly 900 homes warning they will be yet another "depressing, ugly eyesore"
FOKE opposes rezoning Patyegarang/ Lizard Rock, Morgan Road, Belrose
FOKE has been invited to speak at the Planning Panel regarding its opposition to the Patyegarang/ Lizard Rock, Morgan Road, Belrose (PP-2022-3802) development proposal. The public meeting will be held
Sydney needs Ku-ring-gai’s cool trees
Australia’s two largest capital cities have far too little tree canopy, which increases the cities’ heat island effects and leads to increased rates of obesity, depression, anxiety and heatstroke.
Councils sidelined
Property developers will be able to propose their own spot rezoning and planning controls for large developments, bypassing local councils
Suburban Skyscrapers
The Victorian government says Melbourne by 2050 will be home to nearly 8 million people and as part of a plan to future prove this city it wants to introduce
Portfolio 7 thanks FOKE
Sue Higginson, Chair of the Legislative Council's Portfolio Committee No. 7 – Planning and Environment, has announced the release of its report – 'Planning system and the impacts of climate
FOKE on Planning & Climate Change
FOKE's submission: Inquiry into Planning System & the Impacts of Climate Change on the Environment & Communities
Local Govt rejects Minns new planning body
Delegates at the Local Government NSW Annual Conference have condemned a move by the State Government to establish a new planning body to bypass local government on large housing developments.
Minns wants Developers to bypass local government
NSW Premier Minns says developers will soon be able to bypass local government on large housing developments.
Ku-ring-gai Community Strategic Plan on Exhibition
Ku-ring-gai Council's Community Strategic Plan - the long-term vision of Ku-ring-gai - is on public exhibition until WED 11 December 2024
Let’s improve Councillors’ Conduct
The Office of Local Government (OLG) has prepared a Discussion Paper to seek the community's views by 29 November 2024
Close St Ives Shopping Village Roads?
Write to your Councilllors asking what the public benefit in closing and divesting the St Ives Shopping Village roads BEFORE 26 NOV 2024
Hawkesbury: urban densification, population growth & climate change pressure
Tell the NSW Government that the priority threat is their own planning policies. Deadline 24 November 2024
FOKE meets with Mayor 11.11.24
FOKE met with Mayor Cr Christine Kay (St Ives Ward) on Monday 11 November 2024.
Minns BRADFIELD Oration
Premier Chris Minns has announced that he will allow developers to bypass council approvals and to seek spot rezoning, in order to speed up approval and delivery times.
Residents tell FOKE . . .
At FOKE's Stall at Gordon Market on 10 November 2024 this is what residents said . . .
Alternative Scenario Maps
See the four alternative scenario maps. The 5th one will become available when it is placed on public exhibition.
Alternative scenarios to TOD soon to be on public exhibition
Click here to be notified of the commencement of the exhibition period
Why so much debate in CONFIDENTIAL?
Why so much confidential debate? Why did it take one hour & forty minutes?
Warning – 45 storeys could become 60
Under the current legislation a developer can get an uplift of 30% with a contribution of affordable housing.
Australia’s broken home ownership
How can we solve housing affordability by 'One size Fails All' housing policies?
Plans to squeeze 30,000 residents into Sydney Olympic Park
How will all this overdevelopment across Greater Sydney deliver a better city?
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