Find out what you can do to protect Lizard Rock
Continue readingHow 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?
Continue readingWill 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
Continue readingFOKE’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)
Continue readingVale 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
Continue readingFOKE 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.
Continue readingMediation 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, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon.”
Please read Ku-ring-gai Council Media Release below:
At its 26 November meeting, Council went into confidential session to consider the outcomes of mediation between Council and the NSW Government, which was undertaken as part of Council’s legal action seeking to invalidate the TOD State Environmental Planning Policy.
At the meeting, Council resolved to accept the mediation agreement(PDF, 93KB).
Ku-ring-gai Mayor Christine Kay said the agreement allowed Council to continue its work delivering dwelling capacity in the four precincts, which was at least equivalent to that envisaged under the government’s TOD scheme.
“As I stated upon the release of our alternative scenarios in mid-November, Ku-ring-gai Council is willing to do its bit to support housing supply, but in a way which is responsive to our unique local area,” Mayor Kay said.
“As I also stated, we are keen for planning in these areas to consider the views of the community and key stakeholders, which is how planning should be done.
“Today’s statement confirms the importance of this work and simply gives this council the same status as other Sydney councils who’ve prepared locally-responsive plans in the TOD precincts.
“While I expect we may receive many inquiries from landowners in response to today’s statement, we are unlikely to be able to provide additional information – beyond what’s covered in the government’s statement – until we complete our work investigating the best housing scenario in the TOD precincts.”
The Mayor said that landowners should take the opportunity to put in a submission on their preferred housing scenario before the closing date of 17 December. The detailed scenarios and ways to give feedback are at the engagement hub.
“While Council’s litigation challenging the TOD SEPP remains on foot, it is hoped that agreement on planning controls can be reached with the NSW Government before the final hearing date, expected to be in mid 2025. Council will be working with NSW Government planning officials to achieve that”, Mayor Kay said.
In November, Council commenced community engagement on five housing scenarios for Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon, including a scenario based on the government’s TOD controls, Each scenario will deliver around 23,200 homes over 15 years.
Council’s four alternative scenarios include measures (in varying degrees) to protect tree canopy and heritage areas and items, reduce impacts on isolated or adjoining landowners and revitalise and strengthen Ku-ring-gai’s commercial centres.
Ku-ring-gai Council v State of New South Wales
Land and Environment Court Proceedings 2024/00173748
Mediation Agreement reached on 21 November 2024 between Ku-ring-gai Council and the
State of NSW (subject to approval by Council at the Ordinary Meeting on 26 November 2024)
The parties have agreed to take the following steps:
- Council to continue public consultation on specific alternative planning options for
the precincts in Ku-ring-gai LGA affected by the TOD SEPP. Council officers will
collaborate with the Department in developing those alternative planning options
from the date of this agreement. - New South Wales Government to make a public statement to the following effect –
Consistent with the approach it has taken with other Councils, the NSW
Government is supporting Ku-ring-gai Council as it develops specific planning
controls that deliver at least equivalent dwelling capacity to the TOD program,
intended to culminate in an amendment to the TOD SEPP. As a consequence,
the planning controls applicable to the Ku-ring-gai LGA in the TOD SEPP
might change. The process is expected to be completed by May 2025. - Council will use its best endeavours to put relevant proposals to Council for approval
in Council meetings in both February and April 2025. - In the event of a satisfactory proposal being finalised, Council and the Department
will work towards implementation of that proposal in or before May 2025. - The proceedings will remain on foot and the mediation will be adjourned (or left
open) as necessary for the purposes of reaching a final settlement. - The parties agree to continue to prepare the proceedings for hearing in the usual
manner and, at an appropriate time, seek a hearing date in June 2025 or as early as
is appropriate (given the readiness of the proceedings for hearing) after June 2025. - The terms of this agreement will remain confidential until the Statement referred to
in clause 2 is made publicly.
Council Resolution accepting the Mediation Agreement
At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 26 November 2024, Council resolved as follows in
relation to item C.1 – Land and Environment Court – Transport Oriented Development SEPP
01 Land and Environment Court – Transport Oriented Development SEPP
File: S14468
Vide: C.1
In accordance with the Local Government Act 1993 and the Local Government
(General) Regulation 2021, in the opinion of the General Manager, the following
business is of a kind as referred to in section 10A(2)(g), of the Act, and should be
dealt with in a part of the meeting closed to the public.
Section 10A(2)(g) of the Act permits the meeting to be closed to the public for
business relating to advice concerning litigation, or advice that would otherwise be
privileged from production in legal proceedings on the ground of legal professional
privilege.
This matter is classified confidential under section 10A(2)(g) because it contains
advice concerning a legal matter that:
(a) is a substantial issue relating to a matter in which the Council is involved
(b) is clearly identified in the advice, and
(c) is fully discussed in that advice.
It is not in the public interest to release details of the legal advice as it would
prejudice Council’s position in court proceedings.
Report by General Manager dated 22 November 2024.
Resolved:
(Moved: Councillors Spencer/Pettett)
That Council accept the proposed mediation agreement detailed in this report.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Stay in Touch
Sign up for FOKE E-News HERE
info@foke.org.au
https://www.facebook.com/friendsofkuringgai/
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
Continue readingLatest FOKE Newsletter
Read FOKE Newsletter, December 2024
Continue readingMinns’ 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”.
Continue readingVideo 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’
Continue readingInformation 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.
Continue readingSign onto FOKE E-News
Stay in touch with issues affecting Ku-ring-gai’s natural and built heritage.
Continue readingChristmas Gift for Developers
Castle Hill locals slam Deicorp plan to build housing towers
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.
Continue readingCouncils sidelined
Property developers will be able to propose their own spot rezoning and planning controls for large developments, bypassing local councils
Continue readingSuburban 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 swathes of new housing stock to make it easier for people to buy at home, but critics of the scheme say it threatens Melbourne’s’ reputation as one of the world’s most livable cities.
Continue readingPortfolio 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 change on the environment and communities’.
Continue readingLocal 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.
Continue readingClose 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
Continue readingFOKE meets with Mayor 11.11.24
FOKE met with Mayor Cr Christine Kay (St Ives Ward) on Monday 11 November 2024.
Continue readingMinns 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.
Continue readingMinister Stokes, a pandemic inspired opportunity for a better NSW!
NSW Planning is going forward with plans for high rise and high density in Sydney when all the facts suggest that the Covid-19 epidemic has changed the way people will live and work in Sydney.
Will this be our last pandemic? Most likely not. This one may take years to get fully under some sort of control or it may rear its ugly head again and again. With increasing globalisation and increasing global populations, more pandemics are a probability, not a possibility. There have been warnings ‘spanning multiple decades’ of such an event. (ABC Science, The next pandemic is coming – and sooner than we think 7/6/2020)
The facts of this pandemic highlight the importance of social distancing and self-isolation in reducing its severity and reducing the death toll. Essential to this is avoiding congested areas, whether in residences or employment locations, such as elevators, communal areas, and enclosed spaces such as public transport. Also essential is the need for fresh air, filtration from trees and separation.
High density buildings have characteristics that make social distancing virtually impossible. For example, New York has experienced a disproportionately higher infection rate due to its very high density residential and employment situation.
If NSW planning continues to pursue a high rise and high density strategy, it is abrogating its duty of care in building a healthy city for its citizens. One of the reasons that Australia has been able to manage the pandemic so well so far, is that our housing is still dominated by detached or low rise dwellings, and low-mid rise apartment buildings.
We have experienced a move to a more mobile workforce in just 3 months than we could have thought possible. The remote working model was anticipated to take many years to be embraced by businesses and employees alike. However this has now been tested and proven successful across a range of knowledge based industries. Employees determining that it is workable, and companies seeing the benefits of lower ongoing occupancy costs in the city.
Added to this is the report published in June on ‘Population Mobility in Australia from 2011 to 2016’ by the Regional Australian Institute, which shows that for Sydney nearly 65,000 more people moved to the regions than came to Sydney. And significantly, more millennials, 20 to 35 year olds, are leaving Sydney for the regions than the other way around. One can only expect that this trend will strengthen with remote working opportunities increasingly more commonplace across NSW.
It is becoming clear that the Covid-19 impact will last for more than 2 years, with consequent high unemployment and minimal immigration. The current models based on earlier assumptions of high population growth over the next 5 years are no longer valid. There would be few businesses that would apply a pre-Covid business strategy as the basis of their future plans. Neither should NSW Planning!
What should NSW Planning do to develop a healthy environment for its citizens?
- Truly embrace decentralisation with more schools, high-quality health facilities and water security in the regions
- Build schools and infrastructure to support the current population in outer Sydney.
- Immediately put a moratorium on high rise developments and assess the redeployment of released corporate space.
- Ensure the proposed green open space corridor guidelines are mandatory and not optional