August 2024 Council Meeting

At the August 2024 council meeting we resolved to:

๐Ÿ™‹โ€โ™€๏ธ Adopt a Prevention of Violence Against Women Action Plan, a first for Ku-ring-gai.

๐Ÿก Put on public exhibition for at least 28 days an updated Planning Agreement Policy. Planning Agreements are a legal agreement between a developer and a planning authority where planning controls are varied in order to achieve a public benefit. Some examples may be to dedicate land for public recreation, environmental protection, road widening, or an extra road while allowing the developer to build an extra storey. Itโ€™s usually a win-win for both public benefit and future housing.

๐ŸŒ‡ Modify and then support two Planning Proposals for a retirement village (110 homes) and residential development (181 homes) in Turramurra, to be sent to the Department of Planning for โ€˜Gateway Determinationโ€™. The Department of Planning will review the planning proposal and conditions before it goes to Public Exhibition and Assessment.

๐ŸšŒ Write to the Minister for Transport and the NSW Premier to accelerate the delivery of rapid bus services along Mona Vale Road.

๐Ÿถ Explore setting up a small dog park at the site of the former Gordon Bowling Club site.

๐Ÿ—’๏ธ Provide terms to council’s lawyers for the court-ordered mediation with the State Government re: housing, noting that this would not have been necessary had the Planning Minister responded to any of my earlier requests for good-faith collaboration in the last ten months.

There were other items as well, which you can read about in the draft minutes. (I will update with a link when this becomes available.)

End of Council Term

Thank you Ku-ring-gai for choosing us to serve you from 2022 to 2024. We just had our last official Ordinary Meeting of Council last night, and the Council will enter caretaker period from Friday 16 August through to the election on Saturday 14 September. Our General Manager David Marshall will be in charge during this period.

I have personally enjoyed working with each of the councillors and I wish them (as well as the other candidates) all the best in the coming weeks. I would also like to thank the staff for their contributions (within the guidelines set by the governing body) to what is predominantly a well-run organisation that seeks to serve you as ratepayers.

Public Education Week

Happy Friday Everyone!

Itโ€™s Public Education Week so Iโ€™d like to thank all the awesome teachers, staff, parents and carers, community leaders and P&C associations who play an important role in educating us as well as our kids.

Farewell Linda Scott

Yesterday Councillors from across NSW said farewell to Councillor Linda Scott who has served both as the President of Local Government NSW and the Australian Local Government Association .

What has impressed me all these years about Linda is that as the head of Local Government, she looks after the interest of all councils regardless of their geography or political makeup. She has led advocacy and sometimes even fought with the State and Federal Governments on issues such as financial sustainability, skilling our workforce, and industry representation – and in some instances she has helped to trigger reforms that put the Local Government sector in a better position to serve our communities.

We will dearly miss Linda and wish her all the best with future endeavours. She of all people has earned a well deserved break to spend time with family.

Gordon Library Refurbished

I popped into the Gordon Library to pick up a book that my daughter has been keen to read. (She is currently into super heroes and super villains.)

It was also great to see that the Children’s Corner, which was previously unavailable during the school holidays, is now refurbished and available for use.

Community Notification Process

One thing that we are in the process of improving at Council is the way that we consult with or notify the community regarding proposed changes.

An example of this is Traffic DAs where our staff will traditionally send a notification to nearby households (eg 10 or 20), and then make a recommendation based on any feedback received. However these notifications may not necessarily go out to the wider group of residents who are affected by the traffic proposal, and a ward councillor may end up asking for the notification to go out to a wider group.

To assist with this process, Iโ€™ve asked the staff to make some of the larger impact matters available for online consultation so that we can reach a wider group of people.

We experimented with this approach when a roundabout was proposed to improve safety conditions at Trafalgar x Clanville. The traditional notification only generated a few responses, so when we switched to online we received quite a lot more. [I have not yet seen what these responses say.]

The process can still be improved. On hindsight I should have actively shared the consultation link on social media, and will aim to do so next time.

https://krg.engagementhub.com.au/clanville-trafalgar-roseville-proposed-roundabout

Youth Advisory Committee

At Ku-ring-gai we want to create opportunities for the youth to participate in policy and projects that matter to them, so we have started a Youth Advisory Committee.

Applications are open til 13 September.

If you know anyone who may be interested in participating, please check out the website.

https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Council/Council-meetings/Committees-and-Panels/Youth-Advisory-Committee

Boundary x Archbold

So we all know how bad the right turn from Archbold onto Boundary is during peak time. It’s a situation that annoys residents because it’s not acceptable to have to wait 20 minutes to get past just one traffic light.

As Boundary Street is operated by the State Government (TfNSW), we’ve been bugging them on a very regular basis about improving the traffic light timings and/or road widening with their land holdings (as they own 1 Archbold Road as well as 85 and 87 Boundary Street).

And their responses over the last few years have been quite lacking in detail.

However we recently received a more detailed response which I’ve copy and pasted below. It does seem like someone from TfNSW has this time put some serious thought into the matter before providing a response, and for that I appreciate it. However I’m not entirely convinced by their argument because I know that Boundary Street performance is nowhere near as bad, neither is the northbound traffic from Penshurst.

I’ll need to gather more evidence on our end before furthering the conversation.

๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ-๐˜จ๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ. ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ท๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ซ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ฃ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜—๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต. ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜—๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต, ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฌ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ. ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฃ๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜บ ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด. ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜บ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด. ๐˜Œ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฌ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด, ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข.

๐˜‹๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฆ๐˜น๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜บ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜บ, ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜จ๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ด:

ยท ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต, ยท ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต, ยท ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ง๐˜ต ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ ๐˜—๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ, ยท ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ง๐˜ต ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜—๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต.

๐˜š๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ด, ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ฆ๐˜น๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜บ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง๐˜ง-๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฌ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด. ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ฌ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด. ๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ, ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜บ๐˜ด ๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ. ๐˜๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ ๐˜—๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜‰๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ฃ๐˜ข๐˜จ๐˜ฆ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜‰๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต.

๐˜Œ๐˜น๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ. ๐˜Œ๐˜น๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฉ๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ง๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜™๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜จ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ. ๐˜๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ข ๐˜ค๐˜บ๐˜ค๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด. ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ญ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ.

๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜บ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ, ๐˜จ๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜บ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข. ๐˜๐˜ต ๐˜ด๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต, ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฆ๐˜น๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜บ, ๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฃ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜บ๐˜ด ๐˜ค๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ณ ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ด, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ถ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ข ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ต.

๐˜•๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ข๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ, ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜จ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ๐˜ซ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ค ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜จ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ญ ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ญ๐˜ญ ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ

More EV Chargers on the way

In the coming months Council, alongside a range of Electric Vehicle charging providers, will be installing chargers across the LGA (some will be on a pay-to-use basis).

Last week we ‘completed’ a set of chargers outside North Turramurra Golf Club with Exploren and there will be two more sets at Turramurra Library and the West Pymble pool later this month.

I went to test out the North Turramurra charger and my experience is as follows.

1. Bring your own charging cable and plug into what appears to be a 7kW charger.

2. You have to download the app to being charging, so I installed the app.

3. Scan a QR code. No probs.

4. ERROR MESSAGE!!! Charger not found on network. ๐Ÿ˜…

So it’s a bit of an embarrassing situation, similar to the Jolt charger in Roseville when it was first rolled out.

They’re teething issues and I’m sure they’ll be sorted out over time.

These chargers, along with potentially hydrogen next decade, will support our transition to Net Zero by 2040 in Ku-ring-gai. Alongside the charging network, we have also required the builders of new apartment blocks to provide electric charging conduits and meters to each residential parking spot. (The installation of an actual charger is the last leg that the home owner has to opt-in.)

Congratulations Wellness in Motion

Congratulations Jo and the entire team at Wellness in Motion Lindfield for winning the Fitness Service of the Year award.

Jo proudly showed me her studio which caters to all with a range of personalised activities to help them stay healthy and/or recover from a prior issue, without having to face the competitive pressures that come from being in a gym environment. The convenient location next to the train station is also a big plus, with most customers choosing to walk or take public transport.

We also discussed some of the issues that concern local businesses, and I had the opportunity to talk to some of the patrons.

It’s great to see businesses like this thrive (especially after COVID) and we wish them all the best in the coming years.

Alston Way Roseville

A few months ago we had multiple residents independently complain about the state of Alston Way, Roseville. It was repeatedly patched but always got worse again due to an underlying / structural issue.

I raised the matter with Council staff and they said that although we didn’t have enough funds to address the matter straight away, they would consider it “next financial year”.

Well, the new financial year started in July and they got onto it straight away! I wasn’t actually expecting the speed on this one, as we’ve got other more complex but inter-related draining issues nearby as well.

Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai Mayoral Dinner for RFS

Last month, Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai jointly held a dinner for our volunteers from the Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai Rural Fire Service, thanking them for their years of service in assisting our residents not just during bushfires but also other extreme weather events, and the education and preparations that lead up to it.

We also had annual awards for the brigades, and I had the opportunity to catch up with the volunteers for Ku-ring-gai and Killara Rural Fire Brigade . Killara in particular were excited to open their new headquarters soon.

Also in attendance were (in the bottom left image) Crs Simon Lennon, Christine Kay, Kim Wheatley, Martin Smith and Barbara Ward.

Sydney Water Purified Recycled Water

Earlier this week Nathan Tilbury – Deputy Mayor Hornsby Shire Council and I were invited to visit Sydney Waterโ€™s Purified Recycled Water (PRW) Discovery Centre where we learnt about what it is that we are doing to ensure there is water for the ever growing population.

In recent years the focus has been on recycling water for non-drinking purposes, provision of water from our desalination plant, and water efficiency measures.

From 2031 Sydney Water hopes to purify (filter, UV treat, chlorinate) wastewater to drinking water and blend it with raw water from our natural waterways. Itโ€™s not a new concept – they have been doing it for years in Los Angeles, Singapore, Perth and South East Queensland.

You can find out more on their website. https://www.sydneywater.com.au/education/drinking-water/purified-recycled-water.html

July Citizenship Ceremony

Great to welcome 80 new citizens to Ku-ring-gai in July.

Special thanks to Barry Fear for being our special guest and giving a speech on what it means to be Australian (more on that in the next post) as well as the Ku-ring-gai Ranger Guides for helping out.

In attendance were also (in the photo from left to right) Matt Cross MP , Councillor Barbara Ward, Councillor Cedric Spencer and Councillor Simon Lennon.

Barry Fear – Cerebral Palsy Alliance

At the July Citizenship Ceremony we had the privilege of having Barry Fear speak to the new citizens about what it means to be part of Australian Society. We really appreciated the time that he spent with us, though it was short and I asked if I could catch up with him afterwards.

This week a Council staff member and I visited Barry at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance: St Ives Lifestyles Centre. He showed us around the facilities and shared about his passion for advocacy.

He also has a YouTube channel that he wants all of you to follow. Please visit and the link below and click on subscribe. https://www.youtube.com/@barryfear7192

Local Business of the Year Awards

Glad to see so many of our local businesses win the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Local Business of the Year Awards.

@bobbinheadbakery – Bakery / Cake Business of the year Wellness in Motion Lindfield – Fitness Service of the year Wahroonga Flower Shoppe – Florist of the year Kanak Kiran – Antiques, Arts, Crafts and Gifts of the year McDonald’s Pharmacy – Pharmacy of the year KX Pilates Turramurra – New Business of the year The Pymble Grind – Fast Food / Takeaway of the year Kipling’s Garage Bar – Hotel / Bottle Shop / Bar of the year Century 21 Masterpiece – Real Estate Agency AND Business of the year The Village Vet – Pet Care of the year

In attendance of the awards ceremony last night were Cr Simon Lennon , Cr Barbara Ward, Councillor Martin Smith , Councillor Kim Wheatley , Cedric Spencer and @CDeputy Mayor of Ku-ring-gai, Cr Christine Kay as well as Alister Henskens MP and our colleagues from Hornsby Council.f

Ku-ring-gai Art Society Annual Art Awards

Congratulations to Glenda Borg for her painting of a Scribbly Gum and winning the Silver Jubilee prize at the Ku ring gai Art Society 57th Annual Art Awards Exhibition.

She said that it was a pleasant surprise and that she had no idea that she would win.

I shared with her my reasons for choosing her work as the winning entry. Not only was it good, but it reminded me of another Scribbly Gum that we once had.

National Tree Day

As part of National Tree Day, residents had the opportunity to plant 500 trees at St Ives Showgrounds. It was encouraging to see so many involved, young and old.

In attendance were Crs Kay and Ward, and I know that Cr Smith and others also attended later in the day.

Flood Risk Committee

Earlier this month our Council’s Flood Risk Management Committee explored the implications of different flood mapping methodologies on properties in our LGA.

As context, each Council is required by the State to ensure that their flood areas are mapped and properties appropriately tagged as this impacts where residents can safely build as well as what future infrastructure is required to support.

At Ku-ring-gai we’ve broken up the LGA into their respective river / creek catchments and we are systematically going through each one to model and understand which properties are impacted under various flooding scenarios.

We do so based on current available data, which means that the increased rainfall from future climate change and increased velocity of runoff from state housing increases and non-compliant construction are not baked into the modelling. In other words, the modelling may understate actual impacts that are experienced in the coming years.

At the same time, we have residents who will push in the other direction…. They are generally motivated by concerns that addition to a flood map leads to increased insurance premiums.

Council generally explores the impact on each property on a case by case basis, so for example if the flooding is expected to only impact 1 sqm of the corner of a property then we are happy to remove the tag from that property. But if modelling with reasonable assumptions shows that a large portion of the property may be affected (even prior to climate change / increased density scenarios) then we would have to exercise our responsibility by tagging the property.

The current focus is on Middle Harbour North and the next area will be Lane Cove catchment. We will later cover Cowan Creek, Ku-ring-gai Creek, Lovers Jump Creek, and Spring Gully Creek when the funding becomes available.

For more information visit https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Sustainable-living/Prepare-for-extreme-weather/Flooding

Ku-ring-gai Rotary Changeover

Last month at the Ku-ring-gai Rotary Changeover dinner, I joined Anthony Rigney from KYDS Youth Counselling and Elizabeth Lovell from Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney in (unexpectedly) receiving Honourary Memberships in recognition of the partnerships that our organisations have with the Rotary Club of Ku-ring-gai.

Ku-ring-gai Rotary has actively been in service for over 60 years and their members support the community through fundraising efforts such as the Lindfield Fun Run, the Gordon Markets, and the Bobbin Head Cycle Classic.

In 2023 they raised and distributed over $100,000 to local charities such as KYDS and Lifeline as well as other causes such as the National Centre for Childhood Grief, the Early Education Toy Library, Dreams 2live4., and a project in the Pacific Islands. They also donated funds for a picnic shelter defibrillator at West Pymble and co-ordinated the dementia friendly cafe at West Pymble.

They would welcome anyone to join their efforts and you can find out more about them on their website or call Malcolm Braid on 0400 528 604. https://www.kuringgairotary.org.au

Coles Development Balfour Street

From time to time we receive complaints about the Coles development at Balfour Street Lindfield, primarily in relation to traffic delays that it causes on Balfour Street and perceived breaches of the conditions of consent which say “๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ง๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜บ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ข๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜บ, ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฐ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜‰๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜š๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ต ๐˜ฅ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ด๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑ-๐˜ฐ๐˜ง๐˜ง (8:00๐˜ข๐˜ฎ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ 9:30๐˜ข๐˜ฎ) ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฑ (2:30๐˜ฑ๐˜ฎ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ 4:00๐˜ฑ๐˜ฎ) ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ด๐˜ค๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ข๐˜บ๐˜ด.”

Residents have also said that council has done nothing to prevent these perceived breaches but that is not the case. The construction site has been fined over $80,000 to date for various offences.

I think it’s important to break down what is and is not a breach, because we will have many more construction sites like this in the years to come as part of the TOD precinct.

So I went down there yesterday morning to observe what was going on.

First of all, this condition of consent applies to construction vehicles. That means concrete trucks, excavators, demolition trucks, heavy transport.

The condition of consent applies to construction vehicle MOVEMENTS which means that if we see a construction vehicle parked on the street but it is not moving, then it is not a breach.

There are other things like forklifts, cranes, machinery, scaffolding, which are counted as plant and equipment. In other words, forklifts are not construction vehicles, they are plant. And if you see a forklift driving or a crane operating during those peak hours then there is no breach because they are not construction vehicles.

What was annoying, however, is that from time to time the lollipop ladies would pop out and block off traffic along the entire street so that the forklifts can pickup skip bins, etc. This probably took up 5 of the 90 minutes that I was there, and if I was a resident driver on Balfour Street waiting to get to work, I would be very annoyed and blame Coles for everything….. I gave our Director of Regulation a call and he explained to me that the lollipop ladies were part of the construction traffic management plan, and that the intent of the condition of consent was to prevent heavy construction vehicles from hurting pedestrians from a SAFETY perspective. That is, the condition of consent was not designed to optimise traffic flows, and there will always be some level of disruption associated with construction.

I did also see two skip bin trucks moving that morning, but the Director said that these were not construction vehicles. They were ‘ephemeral’ and only there to quickly pick up or drop off something before they were gone. He explained that the condition of consent was with regard to longer, more drawn out activities.

I also saw five concrete trucks pop out from Bent Lane turning right onto Balfour Street, before turning right onto Pacific Highway. While these do count as construction vehicles, they were not in relation to the Coles Development so their movements are not a breach of the conditions of consent.

Out of all the things that I observed, there was only one thing that the Director agreed was illegal. I noticed that the utes on Balfour Street were parked for longer than the 1 hour allowed. The Director said that rangers do come here from time to time to issue fines, and that he’d send rangers onto this case.

So other than the illegal parked utes, it was a relatively good morning for the construction firm. But just because they were good this morning, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re like this all the time. They have been fined over $80,000 to date after all.

But we shouldn’t jump to conclusions that they are breaching the conditions of consent or that council is doing nothing about it just because we see a few lollipop ladies and forklifts moving around.

Whether the conditions of consent should be broadened to cover lollipops and forklifts is a separate point of debate, but those are not the conditions of consent for this particular site.

And if you do see anything that you suspect is actually illegal, please let us know straight away.

Ku-ring-gai Art Society Exhibition

The Ku ring gai Art Society is currently hosting its 57th Annual Art Awards Exhibition at St Ives Shopping Village . The exhibition is open from now through to 4th August 2024 and displays works (for sale) from many of our local artists.

As a sponsor, Ku-ring-gai Council has the opportunity to award the ‘Silver Jubilee’ prize so earlier this week, I asked my assistant to come along and help with the selection process.

Pedestrian Pathway Wambool to Jersey

At our May Public Forum, a young resident came and spoke about the dangerous pedestrian pathway connecting Wambool Street and Jersey Street, Turramurra.

Fortunately in his case, Council already had plans to fix this pedestrian pathway and two months later you can see that it is much more pleasant to use, saving pedestrians a few minutes of their time to and from the train station and shops.

I know that a few weeks ago, I posted something similar on social media and what arose was about 30 requests for footpath / road maintenance throughout the LGA. I’ve passed the list of 30 issues onto Council staff and they will systematically prioritise and work through it while considering other competing priorities. It is unlikely, however, that they will all be resolved within two months. These things take considerable planning and time.

Welcome Here Project

This month, residents had the opportunity to hear from and meet Benjamin Law, an Australian author who shared about his experiences with growing up as an immigrant in regional Queensland and then later coming out as gay. His book The Family Law was also adapted to TV for SBS.

The event also doubled up as Council’s official launch of the ‘Welcome Here’ Project, where stickers are used at some of our community buildings to remind members of the LGBTIQ community that they are welcome in our community. The initiative was driven by local resident Alex Free and our local Councillor Alec Taylor as it is a matter that close to both of their heart.

I’ve personally been reflecting on what it means for Australia to be a multicultural, diverse and tolerant society which as councillors we represent. One thing that isn’t often said is that while we are learning to become more supportive of specific minority groups as part of this journey, it’s also important to be equally respectful of the views of others who are not part of these defined minorities. To do otherwise would set a double standard, and it’s unfortunate that respect or tolerance is not always reciprocated.

July 2024 Council Meeting

At the July 2024 council meeting we resolved to:

๐Ÿ˜๏ธ Identify suitable planning controls for dual occupancies, which are to be introduced by the State Government in Ku-ring-gai on 01 July 2025. [Councils without existing planning controls like minimum lot size have been given a one year to establish controls whereas most councils commenced this month.]

๐Ÿ“ Work towards delivering upon the Planning Ministerโ€™s Statement of Expectations for all Local Councils, including the improvement of DA turnaround times and the updating of strategic planning documents to reflect new short term housing targets and State Environmental Planning Policies.

๐Ÿ“„ Request an interim heritage order on the 23 heritage conservation areas within our four TOD precincts, until planning for these precincts is finalised early next year. This is an unusual request that has been rightly raised by Council in the context of an even more unusual decision from the State Government with regard to 6-9 storey developments in federal and inter-war heritage conservation areas. In both of my meetings with the Planning Minister there was a clear unwillingness to honestly explain how 22m / FSR 2.5:1 can be achieved in such areas, so we now put the question to the Heritage Minister for consideration.

โšก๏ธ๐Ÿถ Investigate further updates to Councilโ€™s planning controls and net zero initiatives to support growing demand for electrification, other energy efficiency initiatives, and allowing doggy daycares in town centres.

๐Ÿ“น Update the Code of Meeting Practice to support the live-streaming of the Councilโ€™s monthly public forum. The updated Code will soon go out to public exhibition for public feedback before council votes on the final document.

๐ŸŒณ Allocate funding for the annual round of Environmental Levy Grants and Sponsorships.

๐Ÿ™‹โ€โ™€๏ธ Appoint members of the Status of Womenโ€™s Advisory Committee.

๐ŸŽญ Note a report on the potential cost of reviving the Marian Street Theatre with minimum repairs, and asked for further detail on a pathway / timeline to expanding the theatre as per a previous development application (DA0144/20).

There were other items as well, which you can read about in the draft minutes. https://eservices.kmc.nsw.gov.au/Infocouncil.Web/Open/2024/07/OMC_16072024_MIN_WEB.htm

War Memorial Stolen

๐Ÿ˜ฑ It appears that sometime on Sunday night or Monday morning, someone stole half of the war memorial honour roll that commemorates 67 Turramurra residents who served our country, seven of whom died in battle.

Anyone who has information about the theft is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Hornsby Police.

NAIDOC Week at Southern Cross Care

Earlier this month during NAIDOC Week I visited Southern Cross Care NSW & ACT in North Turramurra as they launched their Reflect stage Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

The RAP was advised by Brooke Prentis and we had a smoking ceremony and performances by Beatrice and family members. We also planted a Lemon Myrtle tree which (surprisingly) has a refreshing smell.

Lifeline Book Fair

Through til Sunday we have Sydneyโ€™s Biggest Book Fair, raising funds for Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney.

Itโ€™s at the Great Hall at Knox Grammar School and there is nearby street parking as well as an under over overflow area.

Great to see so many people here for a good cause, and it wouldnโ€™t have been possible without the help of our local volunteers at Lifeline.

Bring Back the Bears

Many of us grew up following the North Sydney Bears and it was a shame to see them fall off the top tier of competition in the late 90’s.

I recently met with North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker and Nathan Tilbury – Deputy Mayor Hornsby Shire Council to discuss the latest proposal to bring back the Bears in the form of a venture as the Perth Bears. If successful, this means that the logo and colours are retained, and that our Ku-ring-gai Cubs Rugby League Club have a development pathway to the competition, as well as the possibility of some games held at North Sydney Oval .

You can support the initiatives by becoming a member today (starting from $25 pa). https://www.northsydneybears.com.au

NSW Announcement on Dual Occupancies

The NSW Government has committed to delivering 377,000 well-located homes over five years – and it expects Ku-ring-gai to deliver its share of 7,600 in the same period.

A critical element of delivering these targets is the government’s ‘Low- and Mid-Rise Housing’ (LMRH) Reforms. And over the weekend the government announced its approach by gradually updating parts of its website.

It appears that the LMRH is now split into two stages.

Stage 1 of LMRH, which commenced yesterday on 01 July 2024, allows for dual occupancies to be installed in any R2 low-density residential zone across NSW with the exception of certain sites that are affected by flood, bushfire, individually listed heritage items (but not heritage conservation areas), or other criteria.

Some residents will consider stage 1 of LMRH to be good news, as it makes it easier to enter the housing market and allow multi-generational families to live in proximity while having their separate space.

However at Ku-ring-gai we also recognise that if dual occupancies are implemented with the non-refusal parameters that the NSW Government had proposed in December 2023 (minimum lot size 450 sqm, floor space ratio 0.65:1), then it will have a detrimental impact on our urban tree canopy, biodiversity, climate resilience and heritage.

The problem that I have with the announcement over the weekend is that it is silent on the minimum lot size and floor space ratios for dual occupanices. And in the absence of these parameters, the impacts of these dual occupancies are unknown.

As a Council, we have previously proposed more appropriate parameters to the Department of Planning, and we will be following up to confirm its support to provide you as residents the certainty that you need.

Stage 2 of the LMRH involves additional density around train stations and town centres. Further details will be announced later in 2024 (I suspect after the Local Government elections to safeguard Labor candidates) with an implementation date set for the second half of 2ฬถ0ฬถ2ฬถ5ฬถ 2024 [Department website said second half of 2025 on 01 July but when I checked again this morning it said second half of 2024].

Tฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถsฬถeฬถcฬถoฬถnฬถdฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถlฬถfฬถ ฬถ2ฬถ0ฬถ2ฬถ5ฬถ ฬถiฬถmฬถpฬถlฬถeฬถmฬถeฬถnฬถtฬถaฬถtฬถiฬถoฬถnฬถ ฬถdฬถaฬถtฬถeฬถ ฬถiฬถsฬถ ฬถaฬถcฬถtฬถuฬถaฬถlฬถlฬถyฬถ ฬถgฬถoฬถoฬถdฬถ ฬถnฬถeฬถwฬถsฬถ ฬถbฬถeฬถcฬถaฬถuฬถsฬถeฬถ ฬถKฬถuฬถ-ฬถrฬถiฬถnฬถgฬถ-ฬถgฬถaฬถiฬถ ฬถaฬถsฬถ ฬถwฬถeฬถlฬถlฬถ ฬถaฬถsฬถ ฬถoฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถrฬถ ฬถcฬถoฬถuฬถnฬถcฬถiฬถlฬถsฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถvฬถeฬถ ฬถbฬถeฬถeฬถnฬถ ฬถaฬถsฬถkฬถiฬถnฬถgฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถDฬถeฬถpฬถaฬถrฬถtฬถmฬถeฬถnฬถtฬถ ฬถoฬถfฬถ ฬถPฬถlฬถaฬถnฬถnฬถiฬถnฬถgฬถ ฬถfฬถoฬถrฬถ ฬถmฬถoฬถrฬถeฬถ ฬถtฬถiฬถmฬถeฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถcฬถoฬถnฬถdฬถuฬถcฬถtฬถ ฬถlฬถoฬถcฬถaฬถlฬถ ฬถpฬถlฬถaฬถnฬถnฬถiฬถnฬถgฬถ ฬถfฬถoฬถrฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถLฬถMฬถRฬถHฬถ.ฬถ ฬถIฬถtฬถ’ฬถsฬถ ฬถgฬถrฬถeฬถaฬถtฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถhฬถeฬถaฬถrฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถaฬถtฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถDฬถeฬถpฬถaฬถrฬถtฬถmฬถeฬถnฬถtฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถsฬถ ฬถlฬถiฬถsฬถtฬถeฬถnฬถeฬถdฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถoฬถuฬถrฬถ ฬถfฬถeฬถeฬถdฬถbฬถaฬถcฬถkฬถ,ฬถ ฬถbฬถeฬถcฬถaฬถuฬถsฬถeฬถ ฬถiฬถtฬถ ฬถiฬถsฬถ ฬถcฬถoฬถuฬถnฬถcฬถiฬถlฬถsฬถ ฬถwฬถhฬถoฬถ ฬถaฬถrฬถeฬถ ฬถbฬถeฬถsฬถtฬถ ฬถpฬถlฬถaฬถcฬถeฬถdฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถdฬถeฬถtฬถeฬถrฬถmฬถiฬถnฬถeฬถ ฬถwฬถhฬถeฬถrฬถeฬถ ฬถdฬถeฬถnฬถsฬถiฬถtฬถyฬถ ฬถsฬถhฬถoฬถuฬถlฬถdฬถ ฬถgฬถoฬถ.ฬถ [Paragraph stricken out due to Department of Planning website update on morning of 02 July]

Having said that, we are still in disagreement with a separate set of reforms called ‘Transport Oriented Development’ (TOD). These reforms were imposed on a small radius around Gordon, Killara, Lindfield and Roseville earlier this year.

Despite multiple requests to have sufficient time to plan for the TOD, the NSW Government pushed ahead with their April timeframe. The financial impact on ratepayers is over ten million, and to recover the costs we have had no choice but to take the State Government to court.

I have spoken to the Minister on 02 May and subsequently written to him twice saying that the court action can be avoided if he were to be consistent and given Ku-ring-gai the same opportunity for local planning that he gave to 12 other councils for the TOD (and now 128 councils for the LMRH stage 2). All he has to do is lift the map for our four TOD precincts and set a deferred commencement date in 2025. But he has not been interested in backing down from his position, so the only way we can protect your ratepayer funds is to go through the courts.

In May, Council also resolved for staff to identify different density scenarios for each of the four TOD precincts and to commence a public consultation process towards the end of this year.

Nฬถoฬถwฬถ ฬถwฬถiฬถtฬถhฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถdฬถeฬถfฬถeฬถrฬถrฬถeฬถdฬถ ฬถcฬถoฬถmฬถmฬถeฬถnฬถcฬถeฬถmฬถeฬถnฬถtฬถ ฬถoฬถfฬถ ฬถLฬถMฬถRฬถHฬถ ฬถsฬถtฬถaฬถgฬถeฬถ ฬถ2ฬถ,ฬถ ฬถiฬถtฬถ ฬถmฬถeฬถaฬถnฬถsฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถaฬถtฬถ ฬถKฬถuฬถ-ฬถrฬถiฬถnฬถgฬถ-ฬถgฬถaฬถiฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถoฬถrฬถeฬถtฬถiฬถcฬถaฬถlฬถlฬถyฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถsฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถoฬถpฬถpฬถoฬถrฬถtฬถuฬถnฬถiฬถtฬถyฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถcฬถoฬถnฬถdฬถuฬถcฬถtฬถ ฬถpฬถlฬถaฬถnฬถnฬถiฬถnฬถgฬถ ฬถfฬถoฬถrฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถ8ฬถ0ฬถ0ฬถmฬถ ฬถwฬถaฬถlฬถkฬถiฬถnฬถgฬถ ฬถdฬถiฬถsฬถtฬถaฬถnฬถcฬถeฬถ ฬถaฬถrฬถoฬถuฬถnฬถdฬถ ฬถeฬถaฬถcฬถhฬถ ฬถtฬถrฬถaฬถiฬถnฬถ ฬถsฬถtฬถaฬถtฬถiฬถoฬถnฬถ ฬถaฬถnฬถdฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถSฬถtฬถ ฬถIฬถvฬถeฬถsฬถ ฬถsฬถhฬถoฬถpฬถsฬถ.ฬถ ฬถIฬถfฬถ ฬถwฬถeฬถ ฬถcฬถaฬถnฬถ ฬถgฬถeฬถtฬถ ฬถiฬถtฬถ ฬถdฬถoฬถnฬถeฬถ ฬถbฬถeฬถfฬถoฬถrฬถeฬถ ฬถmฬถiฬถdฬถ ฬถ2ฬถ0ฬถ2ฬถ5ฬถ ฬถwฬถeฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถvฬถeฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถpฬถoฬถtฬถeฬถnฬถtฬถiฬถaฬถlฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถpฬถrฬถoฬถtฬถeฬถcฬถtฬถ ฬถoฬถuฬถrฬถ ฬถuฬถrฬถbฬถaฬถnฬถ ฬถtฬถrฬถeฬถeฬถ ฬถcฬถaฬถnฬถoฬถpฬถyฬถ,ฬถ ฬถbฬถiฬถoฬถdฬถiฬถvฬถeฬถrฬถsฬถiฬถtฬถyฬถ,ฬถ ฬถcฬถlฬถiฬถmฬถaฬถtฬถeฬถ ฬถrฬถeฬถsฬถiฬถlฬถiฬถeฬถnฬถcฬถeฬถ ฬถaฬถnฬถdฬถ ฬถhฬถeฬถrฬถiฬถtฬถaฬถgฬถeฬถ ฬถcฬถoฬถnฬถsฬถeฬถrฬถvฬถaฬถtฬถiฬถoฬถnฬถ ฬถaฬถrฬถeฬถaฬถsฬถ.ฬถ[Paragraph stricken out due to Department of Planning website update on morning of 02 July] ฬถ ฬถBฬถuฬถtฬถ ฬถCฬถoฬถuฬถnฬถcฬถiฬถlฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถsฬถ ฬถyฬถeฬถtฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถdฬถiฬถsฬถcฬถuฬถsฬถsฬถ ฬถoฬถrฬถ ฬถrฬถeฬถsฬถoฬถlฬถvฬถeฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถdฬถoฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถiฬถsฬถ ฬถfฬถoฬถrฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถLฬถMฬถRฬถHฬถ.ฬถ.ฬถ.ฬถ.ฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถlฬถaฬถsฬถtฬถ ฬถtฬถiฬถmฬถeฬถ ฬถwฬถeฬถ ฬถcฬถoฬถnฬถsฬถiฬถdฬถeฬถrฬถeฬถdฬถ ฬถsฬถoฬถmฬถeฬถtฬถhฬถiฬถnฬถgฬถ ฬถsฬถiฬถmฬถiฬถlฬถaฬถrฬถ,ฬถ ฬถiฬถtฬถ ฬถdฬถiฬถdฬถ ฬถnฬถoฬถtฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถvฬถeฬถ ฬถeฬถnฬถoฬถuฬถgฬถhฬถ ฬถsฬถuฬถpฬถpฬถoฬถrฬถtฬถ ฬถdฬถuฬถeฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถaฬถbฬถsฬถeฬถnฬถcฬถeฬถ ฬถoฬถfฬถ ฬถlฬถoฬถnฬถgฬถ-ฬถtฬถeฬถrฬถmฬถ ฬถtฬถaฬถrฬถgฬถeฬถtฬถsฬถ ฬถfฬถrฬถoฬถmฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถ ฬถSฬถtฬถaฬถtฬถeฬถ.ฬถ ฬถAฬถnฬถdฬถ ฬถwฬถeฬถ ฬถsฬถtฬถiฬถlฬถlฬถ ฬถdฬถoฬถ ฬถnฬถoฬถtฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถvฬถeฬถ ฬถaฬถnฬถyฬถ ฬถlฬถoฬถnฬถgฬถ-ฬถtฬถeฬถrฬถmฬถ ฬถtฬถaฬถrฬถgฬถeฬถtฬถsฬถ.ฬถ ฬถQฬถLฬถDฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถsฬถ ฬถtฬถaฬถrฬถgฬถeฬถtฬถsฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถrฬถoฬถuฬถgฬถhฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถ2ฬถ0ฬถ4ฬถ6ฬถ,ฬถ ฬถVฬถIฬถCฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถsฬถ ฬถtฬถaฬถrฬถgฬถeฬถtฬถsฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถrฬถoฬถuฬถgฬถhฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถ2ฬถ0ฬถ5ฬถ1ฬถ,ฬถ ฬถbฬถuฬถtฬถ ฬถNฬถSฬถWฬถ ฬถoฬถnฬถlฬถyฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถsฬถ ฬถaฬถ ฬถfฬถiฬถvฬถeฬถ ฬถyฬถeฬถaฬถrฬถ ฬถtฬถaฬถrฬถgฬถeฬถtฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถrฬถoฬถuฬถgฬถhฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถ2ฬถ0ฬถ2ฬถ9ฬถ.ฬถ ฬถSฬถoฬถmฬถeฬถ ฬถcฬถoฬถuฬถnฬถcฬถiฬถlฬถlฬถoฬถrฬถsฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถvฬถeฬถ ฬถaฬถrฬถgฬถuฬถeฬถdฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถaฬถtฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถiฬถsฬถ ฬถdฬถoฬถeฬถsฬถ ฬถnฬถoฬถtฬถ ฬถpฬถrฬถoฬถvฬถiฬถdฬถeฬถ ฬถeฬถnฬถoฬถuฬถgฬถhฬถ ฬถcฬถlฬถaฬถrฬถiฬถtฬถyฬถ ฬถfฬถoฬถrฬถ ฬถKฬถuฬถ-ฬถrฬถiฬถnฬถgฬถ-ฬถgฬถaฬถiฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถeฬถsฬถtฬถaฬถbฬถlฬถiฬถsฬถhฬถ ฬถaฬถ ฬถlฬถoฬถnฬถgฬถ-ฬถtฬถeฬถrฬถmฬถ ฬถLฬถoฬถcฬถaฬถlฬถ ฬถEฬถnฬถvฬถiฬถrฬถoฬถnฬถmฬถeฬถnฬถtฬถ ฬถPฬถlฬถaฬถnฬถ.ฬถ[Paragraph stricken out due to Department of Planning website update on morning of 02 July] ฬถ ฬถAฬถnฬถyฬถwฬถaฬถyฬถ ฬถwฬถeฬถ’ฬถlฬถlฬถ ฬถsฬถeฬถeฬถ ฬถwฬถhฬถaฬถtฬถ ฬถhฬถaฬถpฬถpฬถeฬถnฬถsฬถ.ฬถ ฬถTฬถhฬถeฬถrฬถeฬถ’ฬถsฬถ ฬถsฬถtฬถiฬถlฬถlฬถ ฬถaฬถ ฬถlฬถoฬถtฬถ ฬถoฬถfฬถ ฬถaฬถmฬถbฬถiฬถgฬถuฬถiฬถtฬถyฬถ ฬถeฬถvฬถeฬถnฬถ ฬถwฬถiฬถtฬถhฬถ ฬถLฬถMฬถRฬถHฬถ ฬถSฬถtฬถaฬถgฬถeฬถ ฬถ1ฬถ,ฬถ ฬถaฬถnฬถdฬถ ฬถtฬถhฬถeฬถrฬถeฬถ’ฬถsฬถ ฬถaฬถ ฬถfฬถeฬถwฬถ ฬถdฬถeฬถtฬถaฬถiฬถlฬถsฬถ ฬถfฬถoฬถrฬถ ฬถoฬถuฬถrฬถ ฬถsฬถtฬถaฬถfฬถfฬถ ฬถtฬถoฬถ ฬถcฬถlฬถaฬถrฬถiฬถfฬถyฬถ ฬถbฬถeฬถfฬถoฬถrฬถeฬถ ฬถwฬถeฬถ ฬถcฬถaฬถnฬถ ฬถfฬถoฬถrฬถmฬถ ฬถaฬถ ฬถpฬถoฬถsฬถiฬถtฬถiฬถoฬถnฬถ.ฬถ [It’s a bit ridiculous that I had to cross out a large chunk of this Facebook post…. The Department should check their material and their dates before publishing the details on the Internet.]

Link to 01 July 2024 webpage. https://web.archive.org/web/20240701140452/https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/diverse-and-well-located-homes

Link to 02 July 2024 webpage. https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/diverse-and-well-located-homes

KPO 40 Year Anniversary NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition

Last night I was delighted to attend Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestraโ€™s 40 year anniversary NSW Secondary Schools Concerto Competition Finals.

We have a lot of talented high school students and they each have promising careers ahead of them. I especially enjoyed the comraderie and support that they provided each other backstage.

The competition results are available on their website, and photos will become available later once there is consent.

https://www.kpo.org.au/current/concertocomp

Inaugural Ku-ring-gai Kids Olympics

When I first became Mayor I asked the staff what were we going to do support our athletes during the Paris Olympics.

One of their ideas was Ku-ring-gai’s inaugural Kids Olympics, which we will be running these school holidays with other sporting groups.

Our kids will have the opportunity to try out different sports like triathlon, tennis, football, and table tennis. We wanted to do this to promote awareness of sporting opportunities in the leadup to Paris.

More information is available at krg.nsw.gov.au/kidsolympics

Police Awards Ceremony

Glad to attend the Ku-ring-gai and Hills Police Area Command 2024 Awards Ceremony, where 37 police officers and members of the public were recognised for their contributions to the community.

This was my second time attending such a ceremony and it was encouraging to hear about the bravery of the officers and civilians who have served us.

Ku-ring-gai Artists at Abbotsleigh

Last night as part of our Arts and Cultural Festival I attended the opening of a two week exhibit of Ku-ring-gai Artists at the Grace Cossington Smith Gallery at Abbotsleigh.

On display are works by Eva Barry, Annarie Hildebrand and Alan Tracey. It was good to chat to each of them afterwards to understand what inspired their works.

These works are on display for the next two weeks and they are also on sale. For more information visit

https://www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au/grace-cossington-smith-gallery/current-exhibition/

EV Test Drive

As you know Ku-ring-gai aspires to reach Net Zero by 2040, and part of this involves encouraging residents to electrify their transport.

We will be introducing more EV chargers in the coming months, and we also want to encourage residents to consider making their next car electric.

The NRMA recently held an EV test drive and awareness event at the HART driving school in St Ives. I was joined by Councillor Martin Smith and Councillor Kim Wheatley and we saw a wide range of vehicles manufactured by BMW, BYD, Ford, GWM, Hyundai, Kia, LDV, Mercedes, MG, Renault, Tesla and Volvo. There was also a VW Buggy retrofitted as an EV.

It was a good opportunity to test drive a number of vehicles and at this stage I still say that my personal favourite is the Tesla Model 3. Tesla has had more time to refine their product and it stands above the rest.

Refugee Week

As part of Refugee Week we listened to the stories of recent migrants as they shared about hardships in their homeland, their journeys to Australia, the challenges of getting refugee status, and their desire to be productive citizens in society.

The event was held at Gordon Baptist and organised by various organisations under the umbrella of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Multicultural Network Interagency.

We found this video to be helpful in introducing some of the issues. https://youtu.be/25bwiSikRsI

South Turramurra Girl Guides

This week I joined โ€œHappy Helenโ€ to visit the South Turramurra Girl Guides . Helen helped the guides with a sewing lesson and I was there to talk about the role of government and civil service.

Some questions included:

What does council do? How big is Ku-ring-gai?

Favourite part of being a councillor / mayor?

What are those round things on your neck? Are they heavy?

How old are you? Did you plan to do this when growing up? [I didnโ€™t plan on becoming a councillorโ€ฆ I thought Iโ€™d end up serving the community at a churchโ€ฆ The scouts and guides tend to prepare their people for community service]

How come you chose to join scouts? (Instead of guides) [I grew up with a scout hall across the road so it was an easy choice]

Make Music Day

Apparently it was Make Music Day today so we had a quartet from the Kuringai Youth Orchestra perform at the Lindfield Village Green from 3-4pm.

I only found out about it this week so we werenโ€™t able to widely promote, and weโ€™ll make sure it has a greater profile next year.

Councillor Barbara Ward and I popped by to take a look and it ended up being a good opportunity to talk to local residentsโ€ฆ topics that they asked about included the Transport Oriented Development, Heritage Items, and the Lindfield Village Hub.

June Citizenship Ceremony

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บWe welcomed 65 or so new Australian Citizens last night.

Itโ€™s great to have them join our wonderful country, and Iโ€™m also glad that weโ€™ve finally worked through our Covid-backlog (previously been doing 160 citizens each month).

June Council Meeting

At last nightโ€™s council meeting we resolved to:

๐Ÿช†๐Ÿ€ Develop a multicultural inclusion plan and fund a multicultural festival (think of our well-attended Lunar New Year festival, but bigger).

๐Ÿ๐ŸMake amendments to the Canoon Road Recreation Area Plan of Management to make the site safer to use for under 9โ€™s and more accessible to all age groups.

๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธโ€โžก๏ธ๐Ÿƒโ€โžก๏ธReclassify the Roseville Chase Bowling Site to Community Land and develop a masterplan for future recreational use.

โšฝ๏ธ๐Ÿ‘Support Hornsby Council in lobbying for the retention of funding to develop Westleigh Park, which will provide critical infrastructure for residents in Northern Sydney.

๐Ÿ“๐Ÿ”Make further improvements to our Enterprise Risk Framework and Internal Audit Charter, in alignment with updated requirements from the Office of Local Government.

๐ŸŒ†๐Ÿ™๏ธWe also discussed 345 Pacific Highway, however that is a complex issue and Iโ€™d prefer to provide a more detailed post later this week after the recommendations of the Sydney North Planning Panel are also published. Itโ€™s not helpful to talk about it in little chunks.

Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Forum

Following considerable public interest as well as some confusion about the range of different housing policies and targets out there, the Council is running a series of community information sessions on the NSW Governmentโ€™s Low- and Mid-Rise Housing SEPP changes.

The first session was held last night at Council chambers and it was well attended. There are further sessions available both in person and online, and if interested you are free to register to attend whichever one is most convenient for you. The content will be almost exactly the same at each session as the policy change applies consistently across NSW.

To register, visit

https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Planning-and-development/Changes-to-NSW-Government-housing-policy/Community-Forums-on-NSW-Low-and-Mid-rise-Housing-Policy

Practical Solutions to reduce your Power Bill and Carbon Footprint

As part of Ku-ring-gaiโ€™s inaugural Net Zero Communities Grant (funded by our Environmental Levy) we sponsored EnergyZE to hold a community event where like-minded people shared tips on how reducing our carbon footprint.

Presentations were made by:

Dr Kate Wilson, a St Ives resident who previously worked as Executive Director for Climate Change and Sustainability under the former NSW Government; Kristen McDonald, a former Roseville Public School student (from my year) who now works as the Mobilisation and Engagement Manager at Rewiring Australia; and

Myself as the Mayor, sharing about Ku-ring-gaiโ€™s sustainability initiatives.

Afterwards we answered questions as a panel.

I think Kate and Kristenโ€™s presentations will become available later on the EnergyZE website, and mine is available in the link below.

https://t.ly/jZD6Q

#NetZeroKuringgai ๐Ÿ โšกโ˜€๏ธ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘งโ€๐Ÿ‘ฆ

Country Connection Exhibition

On Friday night we attended the opening of Judith Franklinโ€™s โ€œCountry Connectionโ€ exhibition at the Ku-ring-gai Art Centre.

Through Art, Judith expresses her culture and life experiences through a range of traditional and contemporary mediums. Her exhibit goes on through to 28 June on weekdays and some of her work is also up for sale. We are also looking into making the exhibit open to public next weekend as well.

For those interested, Judith is also hosting Aboriginal Dot Art Classes these next two Wednesdays. For more information, visit https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Things-to-do/Events-and-festivals/Gai-mariagal-Festival

AEC Proposed Redistribution

Last year, the Australian Electoral Commission said that electoral boundaries had to be redrawn – with NSW losing one seat to WA – to ensure approximately equal representation across Australia (178,000 residents per electorate).

The upcoming โ€˜redistributionโ€™ triggered really strange proposals from political parties and political aspirants. Each party looked to maximise their own chances of forming government by splitting the seats of their opposition, then assimilating the most favourable polling booths to strengthen their own position.

But these proposals were disappointing because they put their political ambitions before the needs of the people.

In my own submission, I suggested that it made sense for each Local Government Area to be represented by ONE Member of Parliament, rather than for an LGA to be split apart like rags among two or three members. The problem with having multiple MPs for an LGA is that their constituents never get a good dealโ€ฆ they end up with MPs whose attention is divided and who do not have the opportunity to give them the attention they deserve.

So I was very pleased to see the independent committeeโ€™s proposed redistribution boundaries when they became publicly available yesterday. The boundaries have been adjusted to now mostly follow LGA boundary lines, and it provides certainty and improved service for (most of) the residents of our eight Northern Sydney Councils.

1๏ธโƒฃ All Hornsby Council residents are now proposed for the federal seat of Berowra.

2๏ธโƒฃ The entirety of Ku-ring-gai Council plus the vast majority of Willoughby Council are now proposed for the federal seat of Bradfield.

3๏ธโƒฃ The entirety of Ryde, Hunters Hill and Lane Cove Council as well as a small sliver of Willoughby are now proposed for the federal seat of Bennelong.

4๏ธโƒฃ The entirety of North Sydney and Mosman Council are now proposed for the federal seat of Warringah.

Of course, itโ€™s also sad to see that NSWโ€™s slower population growth has led to the loss of one seat (North Sydney) but I am of the view that with population growth we will get it back again next decade.

Boundaries and MPs will continue to change with the seasons, but itโ€™s important to recognise the contribution of each of our local MPs. I have a great deal of respect for each of the incumbents regardless of Liberal, Labor or Teal.

Been a quiet week

I havenโ€™t been active on social media this week because we have multiple sick family members. What started as a restful long weekend up the coast (my first break since January) ended up being a trip to and long wait at Gosford Hospital ED for the little one, and Iโ€™ve had to be more hands on with the kids this week.

I understand that half our councillors have been sick this fortnight as well!

As for whatโ€™s been happening, we had a well-attended public forum on Tuesday night where we had 16 registered speeches.

On Wednesday I attended the 70th Anniversary and changeover for the Ku-ring-gai Lions as well as the initiation of the Leo Club of Ku-ring-gai. It was encouraging to see so many people prepared to serve their community.

On Thursday I had a meeting with the NSW Local Government Grants Commission where they shared about the process and outcomes of their latest distribution of federal grants across each LGA. Iโ€™ll share more about this in a separate post. We also had our quarterly Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee.

Today I briefly presented at a briefing for the Sydney North Planning Panel and tonight we have the opening of Judith Franklinโ€™s Country Connections solo exhibition at the Ku-ring-gai Art Centre, 5:30-7:30pm. This is part of the Gai-mariagal Festival, celebrating the culture and heritage of First Nations people across this month.

I’ve been trying to keep up with the emails but there’s a bit of a backlog right now. Hoping to sort it out in the coming week.

Pure Brew Gordon

Last month my wife and I had a quiet morning at Pure Brew Co. Gordon. It’s a great place to stop for a drink or a meal, or to study. They even had the UNSW and USYD academic timetables posted on the wall… I’m glad that I’m finished with all that study!

Tiny Forest

On 16 June, we are scheduled to plant trees at the West Pymble Village Green as part of a scientific and educational initiative on climate adaptation. This Tiny Forest will cover 5% of the site, and towards the edge. More information is available on Council’s website.

https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/tinyforest

Reflecting on the overall comms leading up to 16 June, I think things could have been better.

We had fenced off almost half the site for related works / equipment movements, causing some residents to wonder whether half the site would be planted when in fact it is a much smaller area affected.

Council did consult nearby properties as part of the process and that should be commended, but with these plus our traffic developments, I think that in addition to household letters we can also provide more information on the website upfront and seek online submissions from the wider neighbourhood.

We will be revising Council’s Community Participation Plan in the coming months to improve the resident experience.

p.s. Photo was taken soon after my flu vaccination, hence the lollypop.

NSW Housing Reforms Update

There are three separate State-led housing reforms that will lead to Ku-ring-gai’s population doubling within a few decades.

But we currently have residents out there (unintentionally or intentionally) mixing up the names of the reforms, mixing up suburb names, and mixing up the targets and durations so as to achieve their own political goals.

So just to be clear I will provide links to each of the reforms here.

NSW is seeking to deliver 377,000 new homes within 5 years under the National Housing Accord. Of the 377,000, Ku-ring-gai’s share is 7,600. https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/housing-targets

As part of delivering the target, there are three separate reforms being applied by the State to Ku-ring-gai.

In December 2023 they introduced in-fill affordable housing provisions. https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/in-fill-affordable-housing-practice-note.pdf

In April 2024 they introduced Transport Oriented Development Part 2 provisions. https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/transport-oriented-development-program.pdf

This month they will be introducing Low- and Mid-Rise Housing reforms. https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-12/eie-changes-to-create-low-and-mid-rise-housing.pdf

EV Charger in Roseville

Two months ago I was talking about how this state gov advertising sign that double up as an EV Charger was limited in use due to the charging cable being too short.

Well the provider (Jolt) has fixed that now and as you can see, the cable is long enough to plug in.

It charged at 12.3kwh and the first 7kw is free.

Elsewhere in Ku-ring-gai, local council has 15 free chargers at the Lindfield Village Green and there are more council-owned ones coming to North Turramurra, Turramurra and West Pymble.

Zeny Edwards

Great to have Dr Zeny Edwards OAM as guest speaker earlier this week at an event hosted by Council and the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society.

Zeny Edwards was previously the president of the National Trust and a Chair of the UN Women NSW Chapter. She has made various contributions to heritage, peacekeeping, and other social cohesion initiatives so it was good to have her with us.

Thanks also to Cr Barbara Ward who played a part in pulling this together.

Gordon Library

My daughter’s at the point now where she loves to read storybooks, but I’m hoping to broaden her knowledge with non-fiction as well.

I borrowed a few books from the Gordon Library last night and although I had forgotten to bring my physical library card, I was fortunate to login to the library app and use my virtual card.

The kids were keen to dig into the books but I told them it was bedtime and theyโ€™d have to wait til the morning.

Street Tree Planting

As part of the street tree planting initiative in Roseville, Council held an event on the weekend where we discussed the importance of trees and shared ideas on how to keep Ku-ring-gai Green. I was joined by Councillor Alec Taylor and Councillor Barbara Ward.

Council was also giving away tree saplings, and I was invited by Paul and Sue to visit their home afterwards to plant two of them.

LGNSW Meeting with the Ministers

We joined other LGNSW councils this morning in meeting with the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Planning. Most of the questions were around the delivery of social and affordable housing.

They said that today, the Premier will be announcing each LGA’s share of the five-year 377,000 housing target. I can’t comment on it until I see the numbers, so we just sit and wait. ๐Ÿฟ As for longer term targets for each LGA (which would help us with setting up a new LEP), there is currently no information.

NSW Government Short Term Housing Targets

The NSW Government has just released its housing targets for each council to strive for in the coming 5 year period. For Ku-ring-gai it means 7,600 homes in the 5 years to 30 June 2029.

https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/housing-targets

Under the stateโ€™s transport oriented and low- and mid-rise housing provisions, Ku-ring-gai can theoretically meet those targets. The supply is theoretically there. But my concern is whether there are enough construction workers to deliver on this theoretical target.

The target is also too short term. QLD has targets through to 2046, which allows councils to properly plan and deliver infrastructure for future generations. We believe that each council should receive a 20-year target to aspire to, and that councils are best placed to determine where the housing densities should go.

If Ku-ring-gai had the opportunity to deliver long term planning, it may result in the protection of heritage conservation areas and urban tree canopy in some places while other parts of each suburb may have greater density that improves the financial viability and timing of housing delivery.

Itโ€™s all well and good to offer councils a financial incentive for meeting these housing targets, but the main constraint here isnโ€™t councils but is rather the availability of construction workers.

Happi Burger Lindfield

It’s International Burger Day so I visited Happi Burger Lindfield for their lunch special. Even at 11am it had good patronage from the Coles construction workers across the road. The burger was quite intense! Worth checking out if that’s your kind of thing, though I’d also say take it in moderation along with regular diet and exercise.

It's International Burger Day so I visited Happi Burger Lindfield for their lunch special. Even at 11am it had good patronage from the Coles construction workers across the road.

The burger was quite intense! Worth checking out if that's your kind of thing, though I'd also say take it in moderation along with regular diet and exercise.

St Ives Agricultural Show 2024

Earlier this month I attended the St Ives Agricultural Show with Councillor Martin Smith and Councillor Kim Wheatley .

We looked at the winning entries for this year’s competition. In particular we enjoyed Ethan’s junior entry for novelty cake.

It was a well attended event with plenty of rides and food stalls. The St Ives show runs each year on the third weekend of May so we’ll see you there again 17-18 May 2025.

Earlier this month I attended the @[100057107273906:2048:St Ives Agricultural Show] with @[100026694423632:2048:Councillor Martin Smith] and @[100081079106909:2048:Councillor Kim Wheatley] .

We looked at the winning entries for this year's competition. In particular we enjoyed Ethan's junior entry for novelty cake.

It was a well attended event with plenty of rides and food stalls. The St Ives show runs each year on the third weekend of May so we'll see you there again 17-18 May 2025.

Walangari Sand Painting

As part of the annual Gai-mariagal Festival, we had Aboriginal elder and artist Walangari Karntawarra create a traditional sand painting at the Lindfield Village Green. He shared about his culture and local kids got involved with creating the artwork, which continues to be on display and apparently lasts until it rains.

I was joined by Councillors Simon Lennon, Barbara Ward, Alec Taylor, and Christine Kay (from left to right in picture).

Ku-ring-gai will also be hold other events as part of the Gai-mariagal Festival.

Gordon Library is offering a free screening of the film Lionel Rose on 5 June about the extraordinary rise and fall of Australia’s first indigenous boxing world champion.

The Country Connections exhibition at Ku-ring-gai Art Centre between 14 and 28 June features the work of Darkinjung artist Judith Franklin, who will also host two dot painting workshops at the Centre.

Mudgee-based Indigiearth catering company presents a unique dining experience on 15 June with owner and Ngemba Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor. Along with Australian native food prepared with modern techniques and traditional methods you can enjoy authentic entertainment, musical and cultural storytelling.

For more information visit https://www.gai-mariagal-festival.com.au/events-2024.html

As part of the annual Gai-mariagal Festival, we had Aboriginal elder and artist Walangari Karntawarra create a traditional sand painting at the Lindfield Village Green. He shared about his culture and local kids got involved with creating the artwork, which continues to be on display and apparently lasts until it rains.

I was joined by @[759939782:2048:Cr Simon Lennon], Councillor Barbara Ward, @[100075918232069:2048:Councillor Alec Taylor] ,  and @cr_christine_kay (from left to right in picture).

Ku-ring-gai will also be hold other events as part of the Gai-mariagal Festival.

Gordon Library is offering a free screening of the film Lionel Rose on 5 June about the extraordinary rise and fall of Australia's first indigenous boxing world champion.

The Country Connections exhibition at Ku-ring-gai Art Centre between 14 and 28 June features the work of Darkinjung artist Judith Franklin, who will also host two dot painting workshops at the Centre.

Mudgee-based Indigiearth catering company presents a unique dining experience on 15 June with owner and Ngemba Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor.  Along with Australian native food prepared with modern techniques and traditional methods you can enjoy authentic entertainment, musical and cultural storytelling.

For more information visit
https://www.gai-mariagal-festival.com.au/events-2024.html

Meet Dylan from Lendecon

Meet Dylan from Lendecon. He has identified a problem where we tend to buy equipment and use it once or twice while it sits inactive over 99% of the time. How good would it be if instead of owning the equipment (and committing to the embodied energy / resource used), we can search a directory and borrow from one another?

He has setup a platform to enable this and you can find it at https://www.lendecon.com.au

Meet Dylan from @[61553281002581:2048:Lendecon]. He has identified a problem where we tend to buy equipment and use it once or twice while it sits inactive over 99% of the time. How good would it be if instead of owning the equipment (and committing to the embodied energy / resource used), we can search a directory and borrow from one another?

He has setup a platform to enable this and you can find it at
https://www.lendecon.com.au

Chemical Cleanup

Chemical CleanOut is on again tomorrow at the St Ives Showgrounds. For more information, visit.

https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Community/Waste-and-recycling/Hazardous-and-problem-waste/Chemical-CleanOut

Chemical CleanOut is on again tomorrow at the St Ives Showgrounds. For more information, visit.

https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Community/Waste-and-recycling/Hazardous-and-problem-waste/Chemical-CleanOut

Event at Bancroft Park

Free sausages and coffee at Bancroft Park Roseville til 12pm. Sorry I should have promoted this earlier but it has been a busy week.

Free sausages and coffee at Bancroft Park Roseville til 12pm.

Sorry I should have promoted this earlier but it has been a busy week.
Free sausages and coffee at Bancroft Park Roseville til 12pm. Sorry I should have promoted this earlier but it has been a busy week.

Visiting 2nd/3rd Lindfield Cub Scouts

Earlier this week I visited the 2nd/3rd Lindfield Cub Scouts where they asked about Local Government, my role as Mayor, and about my own time as a Cub Scout in the 90’s. Some questions include: – What does Council do? – Which day does the garbage get collected? – Favourite part as Mayor? – Least favourite part as Mayor? – Do I enjoy flying? – Favourite activity as a Cub Scout? – What is Damper? – Did I have a woggle? – How can the scouts serve the community?

Earlier this week I visited the 2nd/3rd Lindfield Cub Scouts where they asked about Local Government, my role as Mayor, and about my own time as a Cub Scout in the 90's. Some questions include:
- What does Council do?
- Which day does the garbage get collected?
- Favourite part as Mayor?
- Least favourite part as Mayor?
- Do I enjoy flying?
- Favourite activity as a Cub Scout?
- What is Damper?
- Did I have a woggle?
- How can the scouts serve the community?

ANZAC Day at St Martins Killara

Yesterday, Councillor Simon Lennon and I presented wreaths on behalf of the community at Living Hope Anglican (St Martin’s Killara). It was also good to see the memorial created for Killara residents who gave their lives for our freedom, and hear from the personal experience of residents who had been affected by war.

This morning I will be attending services at Roseville, Wahroonga and Turramurra.

Yesterday, Councillor Simon Lennon and I presented wreaths on behalf of the community at @[100064588543857:2048:Living Hope Anglican] (St Martin's Killara). It was also good to see the memorial created for Killara residents who gave their lives for our freedom, and hear from the personal experience of residents who had been affected by war.

This morning I will be attending services at Roseville, Wahroonga and Turramurra.

Thank You Volunteers

This week, Council held a free movie screening of Fall Guy at the Roseville Cinemas for all of our volunteers who give up their time to support the community, whether it be to respond to extreme weather events, provide care for our elderly and youth, look after our financially or domestically vulnerable, or care for our environment.

While in Roseville I also stopped by at my favourite bakery for a Steak, Chilli Mexican Pie.

This week, Council held a free movie screening of Fall Guy at the @[100063868380258:2048:Roseville Cinemas] for all of our volunteers who give up their time to support the community, whether it be to respond to extreme weather events, provide care for our elderly and youth, look after our financially or domestically vulnerable, or care for our environment.

While in Roseville I also stopped by at my favourite bakery for a Steak, Chilli Mexican Pie.
This week, Council held a free movie screening of Fall Guy at the @[100063868380258:2048:Roseville Cinemas] for all of our volunteers who give up their time to support the community, whether it be to respond to extreme weather events, provide care for our elderly and youth, look after our financially or domestically vulnerable, or care for our environment. While in Roseville I also stopped by at my favourite bakery for a Steak, Chilli Mexican Pie.

Wear it Orange Wednesday

Yesterday was Wear It Orange Wednesday, a national day to thank the tens of thousands of volunteers who serve the community through storms, floods, road crashes, and other first responder incidents. These guys are the true heroes as they freely do it out of genuine care for the community.

Yesterday was Wear It Orange Wednesday, a national day to thank the tens of thousands of volunteers who serve the community through storms, floods, road crashes, and other first responder incidents. These guys are the true heroes as they freely do it out of genuine care for the community.

Transport Oriented Development Parliamentary Inquiry

Yesterday I was invited to visit Parliament House to deliver an opening statement then answer questions at the Transport Oriented Development Parliamentary Inquiry. Although it was not a perfect process, it was encouraging to see this aspect of democracy at work and Iโ€™m glad that we had the opportunity to share our experience of recent events.

Yesterday I was invited to visit Parliament House to deliver an opening statement then answer questions at the Transport Oriented Development Parliamentary Inquiry. Although it was not a perfect process, it was encouraging to see this aspect of democracy at work and Iโ€™m glad that we had the opportunity to share our experience of recent events.

Lindfield Fun Run

Great weather and an enjoyable run with over 2,000 participating in the Lindfield Fun Run this year, raising funds for KYDS Youth Development Service and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter.

Great weather and an enjoyable run with over 2,000 participating in the @[100064649686516:2048:Lindfield Fun Run] this year, raising funds for @[100057506479179:2048:KYDS Youth Development Service] and @[100067239740050:2048:Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women's Shelter].

Roseville Tree Planting Initiative

๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒณ At Council we recognise the role that trees play in keeping our suburbs cool and fresh while also providing a home for our wildlife.

On my way to work, I met these sub-contractors who have been planting trees the last few days. They said that the trees were generally well received by the majority of residents they met.

๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒณ๐ŸŒณ At Council we recognise the role that trees play in keeping our suburbs cool and fresh while also providing a home for our wildlife.

On my way to work, I met these sub-contractors who have been planting trees the last few days. They said that the trees were generally well received by the majority of residents they met.

Men’s Kitchen Turramurra

Last week I visited the Menโ€™s Kitchen, where their aim is to teach men how to cook.

A typical session involves 10 men and 3 instructors. The men choose what they want to cook from a recipe book and purchase the ingredients beforehand. The instructors provide guidance on the day and then they sit together afterwards to enjoy what theyโ€™ve cooked.

Itโ€™s a great way for the men to become independent or to provide for loved ones, while also building up a sense of community.

At Ku-ring-gai they meet on Thursdays in Lindfield and Fridays in Turramurra. For more information, contact info.kg@menskitchen.org.au

Earlier this year, the Menโ€™s Kitchen were the recipients of the Mayorโ€™s Award for an Outstanding Contribution by a Community Group.

Last week I visited the Menโ€™s Kitchen, where their aim is to teach men how to cook.

A typical session involves 10 men and 3 instructors. The men choose what they want to cook from a recipe book and purchase the ingredients beforehand. The instructors provide guidance on the day and then they sit together afterwards to enjoy what theyโ€™ve cooked.

Itโ€™s a great way for the men to become independent or to provide for loved ones, while also building up a sense of community.

At Ku-ring-gai they meet on Thursdays in Lindfield and Fridays in Turramurra. For more information, contact info.kg@menskitchen.org.au

Earlier this year, the Menโ€™s Kitchen were the recipients of the Mayorโ€™s Award for an Outstanding Contribution by a Community Group.
Last week I visited the Menโ€™s Kitchen, where their aim is to teach men how to cook. A typical session involves 10 men and 3 instructors. The men choose what they want to cook from a recipe book and purchase the ingredients beforehand. The instructors provide guidance on the day and then they sit together afterwards to enjoy what theyโ€™ve cooked. Itโ€™s a great way for the men to become independent or to provide for loved ones, while also building up a sense of community. At Ku-ring-gai they meet on Thursdays in Lindfield and Fridays in Turramurra. For more information, contact info.kg@menskitchen.org.au Earlier this year, the Menโ€™s Kitchen were the recipients of the Mayorโ€™s Award for an Outstanding Contribution by a Community Group.

Heritage Conservation Areas – A thing of the past

I want to make it clear that I have no problem with 6 storey buildings. People gotta live somewhere and I welcome them.

But what I have a problem with is the state government claiming that heritage controls will be respected, because in practice they cannot.

In the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program documentation it says that “heritage controls will apply to the extent they are not inconsistent with the new standards”.

In the SEPP it says that the consent authority cannot apply more onerous standards than the maximum height and floor space ratio set within the TOD provisions.

I’ve asked the Planning Minister multiple times in person and in writing how it is possible that we do FSR 3:1 in an HCA (later revised to FSR 2.5:1, matching what’s in this image) while still following the Apartment Design Guide for amenity. He told me the usual spiel about how councils have the ability to assess against heritage.

This is a problem not just for Sydney’s North, but also for the Ashfield, Dulwich Hill, and Marrickville. But for the Inner West they’ve kicked the can down to December and it’s currently radio silence.

The government just needs to say it as it is. The Heritage Conservation Areas within a TOD precinct will be a thing of the past.

Once again I need to make it clear that I have no problem with 6 storey buildings. My problem is the message that HCAs are compatible with the TOD.

And at Ku-ring-gai we are exploring ways to save these HCAs while still providing great infrastructure outcomes for future residents.

Mothers Day 2024

Happy Mothers Day! Check out our Mothers Day portraits from students at Lindfield Public, Holy Family Primary, and Reddam. The competition is organised by the Lindfield Chamber of Commerce and the portraits hosted by…

Cafรฉ Lyon Lindfield Chem Pro Chemist Ciao Down DiJones Lindfield Gelatiamo Jeeves Dry Cleaners Lindfield Print @lindfield_specialty_butcher My Sewing Supplies Ogalo Lindfield Stone Real Estate Swimart Lindfield

Happy Mothers Day! Check out our Mothers Day portraits from students at Lindfield Public, Holy Family Primary, and Reddam. The competition is organised by the @[100068015786689:2048:Lindfield Chamber of Commerce] and the portraits hosted by...

@[100064038067937:2048:Cafรฉ Lyon Lindfield] 
Chem Pro Chemist
@[100054263150546:2048:Ciao Down] 
@[100070080633885:2048:DiJones Lindfield] 
Gelatiamo
Jeeves Dry Cleaners
@[100063519582284:2048:Lindfield Print] 
@[17841433694156126:6057:@lindfield_specialty_butcher] 
My Sewing Supplies
@[100064304425107:2048:Ogalo] Lindfield
Stone Real Estate
Swimart Lindfield

Community Grants

๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ด๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป? Ku-ring-gaiโ€™s annual grants program is open for applications. Categories include: ๐ŸกHeritage (closing 13 May) ๐Ÿ”‹Net Zero (closing 17 May) ๐ŸŒณEnvironmental Conservation (closing 17 May) ๐Ÿ“…Events and festivals (closing 13 May) ๐ŸŽญArts and Culture (closing 7 June) ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸซCommunity Development (closing 7 June) ๐Ÿ‘Small Equipment (closing 7 June)

For more info visit https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Council/Grants-and-sponsorship

๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—บ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ด๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป?
Ku-ring-gaiโ€™s annual grants program is open for applications. Categories include:
๐ŸกHeritage (closing 13 May)
๐Ÿ”‹Net Zero (closing 17 May)
๐ŸŒณEnvironmental Conservation (closing 17 May)
๐Ÿ“…Events and festivals (closing 13 May)
๐ŸŽญArts and Culture (closing 7 June)
๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸซCommunity Development (closing 7 June)
๐Ÿ‘Small Equipment (closing 7 June)

For more info visit
https://www.krg.nsw.gov.au/Council/Grants-and-sponsorship

Media Day

I had four radio, two newspaper, and two television interviews yesterday.

The way it usually works is they ask a bunch of questions and then you only get quoted for a few seconds (TV) or a few sentences (print). So the full message never goes out unless there’s a really smart pre-prepared soundbite.

The media was keen on discussing the unanimous vote on legal action. But on hindsight, I think I should have drawn more attention to our other unanimous vote to explore alternate scenarios for each of the TOD precincts. I did talk about it in most interviews, but I guess that’s not what the media is interested in portraying (with wordcount).

I had four radio, two newspaper, and two television interviews yesterday.

The way it usually works is they ask a bunch of questions and then you only get quoted for a few seconds (TV) or a few sentences (print). So the full message never goes out unless there's a really smart pre-prepared soundbite.

The media was keen on discussing the unanimous vote on legal action. But on hindsight, I think I should have drawn more attention to our other unanimous vote to explore alternate scenarios for each of the TOD precincts. I did talk about it in most interviews, but I guess that's not what the media is interested in portraying (with wordcount).

eBike Trial – Initial Thoughts

My first thoughts on this eight week eBike trial.

1. It makes the hills easy to climb. I would struggle with Tryon, Nelson and Culworth on my push bike but the e-bike makes it effortless.

2. I wish it had indicator signals. Using arms to signal left and right turn is a pain.

3. Still very conscious of sharing the road with cars, and overall safety. Because Iโ€™m not moving quickly, I sometimes pull over to let cars pass.

4. Our roads are great for cars but some are not so good for cyclists. Need good wheels and suspension.

5. It takes a lot longer to get to places, but if you have the time itโ€™s a great way to check out the neighbourhood.

My first thoughts on this eight week eBike trial.

1. It makes the hills easy to climb. I would struggle with Tryon, Nelson and Culworth on my push bike but the e-bike makes it effortless.

2. I wish it had indicator signals. Using arms to signal left and right turn is a pain.

3. Still very conscious of sharing the road with cars, and overall safety. Because Iโ€™m not moving quickly, I sometimes pull over to let cars pass.

4. Our roads are great for cars but some are not so good for cyclists. Need good wheels and suspension.

5. It takes a lot longer to get to places, but if you have the time itโ€™s a great way to check out the neighbourhood.
My first thoughts on this eight week eBike trial. 1. It makes the hills easy to climb. I would struggle with Tryon, Nelson and Culworth on my push bike but the e-bike makes it effortless. 2. I wish it had indicator signals. Using arms to signal left and right turn is a pain. 3. Still very conscious of sharing the road with cars, and overall safety. Because Iโ€™m not moving quickly, I sometimes pull over to let cars pass. 4. Our roads are great for cars but some are not so good for cyclists. Need good wheels and suspension. 5. It takes a lot longer to get to places, but if you have the time itโ€™s a great way to check out the neighbourhood.

345 Pacific Highway scheduled for KLPP

The Planning Proposal for 345 Pacific Highway will be decided by the Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel on Monday 20 May, 12:30pm.

I havenโ€™t had time to read through the reports but on page 35 the recommendation appears to suggest a reduced height of 12 storeys and FSR of 3.5:1. My own concern regarding Pacific Highway road widening appears to also have been covered, although I have yet to look into the detail.

https://eservices.kmc.nsw.gov.au/Infocouncil.Web/Open/2024/05/KLPP_20052024_AGN.PDF

Ku-ring-gai Councillors have no influence over what this independent planning panel does. The independent panel also has no obligation to follow the recommendations of the assessing officer.

With normal development applications, the meeting is open to the public but for an item like this, it’s closed off from public for some reason (I think that’s weird). I’ll ask council staff if there is a way for the public to make submissions.

The Planning Proposal for 345 Pacific Highway will be decided by the Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel on Monday 20 May, 12:30pm.

I havenโ€™t had time to read through the reports but on page 35 the recommendation appears to suggest a reduced height of 12 storeys and FSR of 3.5:1. My own concern regarding Pacific Highway road widening appears to also have been covered, although I have yet to look into the detail.

https://eservices.kmc.nsw.gov.au/Infocouncil.Web/Open/2024/05/KLPP_20052024_AGN.PDF

Ku-ring-gai Councillors have no influence over what this independent planning panel does. The independent panel also has no obligation to follow the recommendations of the assessing officer.

With normal development applications, the meeting is open to the public but for an item like this, it's closed off from public for some reason (I think that's weird). I'll ask council staff if there is a way for the public to make submissions.

Density Scenarios and Legal Action

So council just met and voted unanimously to proceed with legal action as well as to explore different density scenarios for our four Transport Oriented Development precincts.

I understand that there are some residents concerned about the cost of legal action but let me assure you, the benefits far outweigh the cost. In the last six months alone, Ku-ring-gai has already lost tens of millions in lost infrastructure opportunities as a result of a State Government that has shown no interest in talking to us prior to making detrimental decisions.

The value destruction is extensive.

They expect us to deliver the housing – and I am certainly up for the challenge – but to cripple both infrastructure expenses and funding before imposing a SEPP is just poor form.

13 councils have been willing to engage with the State to get the best possible outcomes, but the State was only genuinely interested in working with 12.

So council just met and voted unanimously to proceed with legal action as well as to explore different density scenarios for our four Transport Oriented Development precincts.

I understand that there are some residents concerned about the cost of legal action but let me assure you, the benefits far outweigh the cost. In the last six months alone, Ku-ring-gai has already lost tens of millions in lost infrastructure opportunities as a result of a State Government that has shown no interest in talking to us prior to making detrimental decisions. The value destruction is extensive. They expect us to deliver the housing - and I am certainly up for the challenge - but to cripple both infrastructure expenses and funding before imposing a SEPP is just poor form.

13 councils have been willing to engage with the State to get the best possible outcomes, but the State was only genuinely interested in working with 12.

Matt Cross MP

Wishing my good friend a speedy recovery. He has been a great representative for our people, and before his time in parliament I have enjoyed my chats with him at the blood donation clinic.

In the interim, any State queries are covered by other MPs who are familiar with our local area.

Flu Vaccinations

Meet Zac from the team at West Pymble Pharmacy and Pymble Pharmacy . They provide walk-in flu vaccinations on most weekdays, just call up in advance to confirm his availability.

It cost me $25 but for residents over 65 it is free.

Meet Zac from the team at @[100094667931538:2048:West Pymble Pharmacy]  and @[100057157492830:2048:Pymble Pharmacy] . They provide walk-in flu vaccinations on most weekdays, just call up in advance to confirm his availability.

It cost me $25 but for residents over 65 it is free.
Meet Zac from the team at @[100094667931538:2048:West Pymble Pharmacy] and @[100057157492830:2048:Pymble Pharmacy] . They provide walk-in flu vaccinations on most weekdays, just call up in advance to confirm his availability. It cost me $25 but for residents over 65 it is free.

The Trolley Problem

For those familiar with ‘The Trolley Problem’ then this is my summary of the dilemma that faces all councillors tomorrow night. We do it one way and get criticised. We do it another way and also get criticised. Critics from both sides don’t understand the complexity of the situation. As for how the trolley got to where it is right now, that is a frustrating thing as well… I wish the State Government was more genuine in its intent to collaborate with Local Government. And my perspective on the matter is covered in yesterday morning’s post (photo taken in the city).

For those familiar with 'The Trolley Problem' then this is my summary of the dilemma that faces all councillors tomorrow night.

We do it one way and get criticised. We do it another way and also get criticised. Critics from both sides don't understand the complexity of the situation.

As for how the trolley got to where it is right now, that is a frustrating thing as well... I wish the State Government was more genuine in its intent to collaborate with Local Government. And my perspective on the matter is covered in yesterday morning's post (photo taken in the city).

Thoughts on eBikes

๐—ก๐—ผ ๐—œโ€™๐—บ ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—จ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—˜๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—ฑ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ. Iโ€™ve been researching electric cargo bikes with the intention of taking my kids on school runs and doing other fun stuff. Bikes give you some exercise, take up a lot less space than a car, and are cheaper to run.

But theyโ€™re not THAT cheap.

This one here is a Tern GSD S10. If purchased upfront with a whole bunch of accessories itโ€™s about $9,000. Who has that kind of money for a hobby?

Iโ€™ve actually been considering something similar at half the price. The Aventon Abound with accessories is about $4,000. Iโ€™ve seen the reviews and I reckon itโ€™s just as good if not even better. But thereโ€™s one slight problemโ€ฆ itโ€™s not street legal! It has a 750W motor but NSW legislation only allows for 500W / 25kmh motors. And even if you put a speed limiting device on the bike, the power means that it is still breaking the law. [Though I doubt a police officer would ever know your e-bikeโ€™s motor output.]

Anyway Iโ€™ve been agonizing over it. So many options to buy, all of them so overpriced or illegal, that the decision is too hard to make and I end up doing nothing. Iโ€™d rather save the money for a family holiday, or leave it in the mortgage offset account.

If I did get one, perhaps Iโ€™d earn the money back through some deliveries.

On a more serious note, I do believe that eBikes will become more common in our TOD precincts when families only have one parking spot and no ability to street park. When I walk around places like Crows Nest I already see bikes everywhere, and itโ€™s going to be similar if we end up with 20,000 new dwellings around four train stations.

As Mayor, Iโ€™d therefore want to try one out for an extended period and understand the infrastructure implications (similar to how I was the first councillor to get an EV).

If you search for โ€˜electric bike hireโ€™ thereโ€™s a few options to get a bike for the short term. One such provider is Lug+Carrie which is currently doing a half price eBike โ€˜trialโ€™ in Ku-ring-gai so Iโ€™ll probably end up with them. But Iโ€™d encourage anyone interested to do the research and figure out which provider gives the best value for your personal circumstances.

๐—ก๐—ผ ๐—œโ€™๐—บ ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜ ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—จ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—˜๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—ฑ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ. Iโ€™ve been researching electric cargo bikes with the intention of taking my kids on school runs and doing other fun stuff. Bikes give you some exercise, take up a lot less space than a car, and are cheaper to run. But theyโ€™re not THAT cheap. This one here is a Tern GSD S10. If purchased upfront with a whole bunch of accessories itโ€™s about $9,000. Who has that kind of money for a hobby? Iโ€™ve actually been considering something similar at half the price. The Aventon Abound with accessories is about $4,000. Iโ€™ve seen the reviews and I reckon itโ€™s just as good if not even better. But thereโ€™s one slight problemโ€ฆ itโ€™s not street legal! It has a 750W motor but NSW legislation only allows for 500W / 25kmh motors. And even if you put a speed limiting device on the bike, the power means that it is still breaking the law. [Though I doubt a police officer would ever know your e-bikeโ€™s motor output.] Anyway Iโ€™ve been agonizing over it. So many options to buy, all of them so overpriced or illegal, that the decision is too hard to make and I end up doing nothing. Iโ€™d rather save the money for a family holiday, or leave it in the mortgage offset account. If I did get one, perhaps Iโ€™d earn the money back through some deliveries. On a more serious note, I do believe that eBikes will become more common in our TOD precincts when families only have one parking spot and no ability to street park. When I walk around places like Crows Nest I already see bikes everywhere, and itโ€™s going to be similar if we end up with 20,000 new dwellings around four train stations. As Mayor, Iโ€™d therefore want to try one out for an extended period and understand the infrastructure implications (similar to how I was the first councillor to get an EV). If you search for โ€˜electric bike hireโ€™ thereโ€™s a few options to get a bike for the short term. One such provider is @[100063454519480:2048:Lug+Carrie] which is currently doing a half price eBike โ€˜trialโ€™ in Ku-ring-gai so Iโ€™ll probably end up with them. But Iโ€™d encourage anyone interested to do the research and figure out which provider gives the best value for your personal circumstances.
View in Window

Marian Street Theatre

Of the Killara residents I met yesterday, NSW Housing Policy was the main topic but Marian Street Theatre was mentioned as well.

Council currently has an approved Development Application to renew and expand the theatre. The 2018 community-led price estimate was $10m, but an experienced quantity sureyor has priced it at $24m. This is for a 249 seat theatre, as site constraints cannot support more than that without triggering other issues.

Council currently does not have $24m of ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ funds sitting around so residents have been keen to explore alternate funding solutions.

One idea has been to borrow money. This was a popular idea in 2021 but Australiaโ€™s cash rate has since gone up from 0.10% to a 10-year high of 4.35%. Most bank loans are 5-7%. So if council had borrowed money to build the theatre, it would have been over a million of interest alone, plus principal repayments and operating costs taking it to $2m per year.

Another idea has been to use developer contributions. This currently isnโ€™t possible as Marian Street Theatre is not listed in Ku-ring-gaiโ€™s 2010 Contributions Plan, though the contributions plan will eventually have to be updated to reflect the dramatic changes anticipated from NSW Housing Policy. As for why Council hasnโ€™t updated it for 14 years, itโ€™s because the Contributions Plan was developed under a legacy system where contributions were not capped. However the modern system imposes caps to the size of each contribution, which has made it extremely difficult for other councils to raise funds to deliver much-needed infrastructure. NSW councils have been complaining about this issue for years! But Ku-ring-gai is fortunate to have established a development contributions plan just before the change in the system, and so has held onto the old plan to maximise the infrastructure we deliver for you.

The increased population will not only increase the volume of development contributions (for upfront construction costs), but also an increase in rates and fees (for covering ongoing operational costs). This may improve the viability of the theatre in the coming years.

Before the announcement of all these housing policy changes, another funding option floated has been a once off increase in rates (special rates variation) similar to what Hornsby and Willoughby have done in the last two years. In Ku-ring-gaiโ€™s case, we have had a 40% increase in operating costs in the last decade while the rates that we collect (which are pegged by the State Government) have only increased by 28%. Council can continue to identify cost efficiencies but at some point, there will be no more to squeeze out.

Yet another idea has been to sell community land to fund the theatre. But in an LGA where we are expecting the population to double, selling off community recreation space is a bit short-sighted.

There was also the option of using proceeds from the sale of the old Lindfield library site to fund the build of the new theatre – and this is an idea that I still support to this day. But with the new library delayed in its current form, it means the sale of the old library is delayed and there is a chain reaction to the timing of Marian Street Theatre.

In all of the sceanrios mentioned above, I wouldnโ€™t expect Council to be able to fund the construction of the theatre until 2026/7. And for someone with a long-term view like myself, thatโ€™s fine. But I also understand that for Killara residents, they would prefer a shorter (but unachievable) time horizon.

I also understand that with a local government election coming up, there is already electioneering on this topic. The reality though is that all Gordon ward candidates will likely want to build the theatre, and regardless of who the community elects, each councillor will be faced by the same constraints listed above. Donโ€™t think that by electing so-and-so, it will improve outcomes on this particualr issue. Youโ€™ll need to decide who to vote for based on other criteria.

In February, our Gordon Ward councillors moved a motion to explore a lower cost โ€˜open the doorsโ€™ option for the Marian Street Theatre. That report will come out in June, and will inform us of whether there is a viable lower cost way of reviving the theatre.

Of the Killara residents I met yesterday, NSW Housing Policy was the main topic but Marian Street Theatre was mentioned as well.

Council currently has an approved Development Application to renew and expand the theatre. The 2018 community-led price estimate was $10m, but an experienced quantity sureyor has priced it at $24m. This is for a 249 seat theatre, as site constraints cannot support more than that without triggering other issues.

Council currently does not have $24m of ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ funds sitting around so residents have been keen to explore alternate funding solutions.

One idea has been to borrow money. This was a popular idea in 2021 but Australiaโ€™s cash rate has since gone up from 0.10% to a 10-year high of 4.35%. Most bank loans are 5-7%. So if council had borrowed money to build the theatre, it would have been over a million of interest alone, plus principal repayments and operating costs taking it to $2m per year.

Another idea has been to use developer contributions. This currently isnโ€™t possible as Marian Street Theatre is not listed in Ku-ring-gaiโ€™s 2010 Contributions Plan, though the contributions plan will eventually have to be updated to reflect the dramatic changes anticipated from NSW Housing Policy. As for why Council hasnโ€™t updated it for 14 years, itโ€™s because the Contributions Plan was developed under a legacy system where contributions were not capped. However the modern system imposes caps to the size of each contribution, which has made it extremely difficult for other councils to raise funds to deliver much-needed infrastructure. NSW councils have been complaining about this issue for years! But Ku-ring-gai is fortunate to have established a development contributions plan just before the change in the system, and so has held onto the old plan to maximise the infrastructure we deliver for you.

The increased population will not only increase the volume of development contributions (for upfront construction costs), but also an increase in rates and fees (for covering ongoing operational costs). This may improve the viability of the theatre in the coming years.

Before the announcement of all these housing policy changes, another funding option floated has been a once off increase in rates (special rates variation) similar to what Hornsby and Willoughby have done in the last two years. In Ku-ring-gaiโ€™s case, we have had a 40% increase in operating costs in the last decade while the rates that we collect (which are pegged by the State Government) have only increased by 28%. Council can continue to identify cost efficiencies but at some point, there will be no more to squeeze out.

Yet another idea has been to sell community land to fund the theatre. But in an LGA where we are expecting the population to double, selling off community recreation space is a bit short-sighted.

There was also the option of using proceeds from the sale of the old Lindfield library site to fund the build of the new theatre - and this is an idea that I still support to this day. But with the new library delayed in its current form, it means the sale of the old library is delayed and there is a chain reaction to the timing of Marian Street Theatre.

In all of the sceanrios mentioned above, I wouldnโ€™t expect Council to be able to fund the construction of the theatre until 2026/7. And for someone with a long-term view like myself, thatโ€™s fine. But I also understand that for Killara residents, they would prefer a shorter (but unachievable) time horizon.

I also understand that with a local government election coming up, there is already electioneering on this topic. The reality though is that all Gordon ward candidates will likely want to build the theatre, and regardless of who the community elects, each councillor will be faced by the same constraints listed above. Donโ€™t think that by electing so-and-so, it will improve outcomes on this particualr issue. Youโ€™ll need to decide who to vote for based on other criteria.

In February, our Gordon Ward councillors moved a motion to explore a lower cost โ€˜open the doorsโ€™ option for the Marian Street Theatre. That report will come out in June, and will inform us of whether there is a viable lower cost way of reviving the theatre.

Bunnings BBQ for KYDS

Thanks Bunnings Pymble for inviting KYDS Youth Development Service to run the inaugural sausage sizzle. All proceeds went to supporting young people with mental health services. You can find out more at www.kyds.org.au

Thanks @[114392424590704:274:Bunnings Pymble] for inviting @[100057506479179:2048:KYDS Youth Development Service] to run the inaugural sausage sizzle. All proceeds went to supporting young people with mental health services. You can find out more at www.kyds.org.au
Thanks @[114392424590704:274:Bunnings Pymble] for inviting @[100057506479179:2048:KYDS Youth Development Service] to run the inaugural sausage sizzle. All proceeds went to supporting young people with mental health services. You can find out more at www.kyds.org.au

Second Meeting with the Planning Minister

I first wrote to the Planning Minister in November requesting a meeting to discuss housing. This he arranged for mid-February and later postponed to end-February. It took over three months to get the meeting, but at least he’s more responsive than the Transport Minister (crickets).

At the February meeting I asked for 12 months to plan for our Transport Oriented Development (TOD) precincts and he said NO. He later gave other (Labor) councils extensions ranging from 9-15 months.

He also said that we’d meet again in March, but then cancelled on me.

We finally met a second time in May and once again on grounds of fairness, I asked for 12 months similar to what he had offered other councils. He said NO. I told him that some residents wanted Council to commence a legal challenge if there wasn’t time to do proper planning.

On grounds of fairness, I also asked for funding to support some of our most pressing amenity needs (public open space, which we need to secure now as it cannot be retrofit). I said if he can make it work, we’ll promote it as a win-win. But surprise surprise, he said NO.

I pointed to the TOD Part 1 (Accelerated Precincts) program which aims to provide 47,800 homes in 15 years within a 1,200m radius of eight centres such as Crows Nest, Hornsby and Macquarie Park. I said it was unfair that they were getting $520m of infrastructure funding (~$10,800 per dwelling, 6,000 dwellings per centre) when we were getting no funding for 5,000 dwellings within an area 1/9th the size. And four of these.

He stuck with the no infrastructure funding line, and told me that I was wrong… That it was 47,800 dwelling in five years, and that there would be many more homes to come. He did say, however, that if Ku-ring-gai wanted to establish an Accelerated Precinct with 1,200m of a train station, he’d be open to talking about funding.

Of course I didn’t commit to anything as that would require a decision of council. But I did tell him that he needs to update his website if the intent genuinely is 47,800 dwellings in five years, because since December it has been saying 15 years.

If Labor had been genuine in working with Ku-ring-gai, we would have had a different outcome.

I first wrote to the Planning Minister in November requesting a meeting to discuss housing. This he arranged for mid-February and later postponed to end-February. It took over three months to get the meeting, but at least he's more responsive than the Transport Minister (crickets).

At the February meeting I asked for 12 months to plan for our Transport Oriented Development (TOD) precincts and he said NO. He later gave other (Labor) councils extensions ranging from 9-15 months.

He also said that we'd meet again in March, but then cancelled on me.

We finally met a second time in May and once again on grounds of fairness, I asked for 12 months similar to what he had offered other councils. He said NO. I told him that some residents wanted Council to commence a legal challenge if there wasn't time to do proper planning.

On grounds of fairness, I also asked for funding to support some of our most pressing amenity needs (public open space, which we need to secure now as it cannot be retrofit). I said if he can make it work, we'll promote it as a win-win. But surprise surprise, he said NO.

I pointed to the TOD Part 1 (Accelerated Precincts) program which aims to provide 47,800 homes in 15 years within a 1,200m radius of eight centres such as Crows Nest, Hornsby and Macquarie Park. I said it was unfair that they were getting $520m of infrastructure funding (~$10,800 per dwelling, 6,000 dwellings per centre) when we were getting no funding for 5,000 dwellings within an area 1/9th the size. And four of these.

He stuck with the no infrastructure funding line, and told me that I was wrong... That it was 47,800 dwelling in five years, and that there would be many more homes to come. He did say, however, that if Ku-ring-gai wanted to establish an Accelerated Precinct with 1,200m of a train station, he'd be open to talking about funding.

Of course I didn't commit to anything as that would require a decision of council. But I did tell him that he needs to update his website if the intent genuinely is 47,800 dwellings in five years, because since December it has been saying 15 years.

If Labor had been genuine in working with Ku-ring-gai, we would have had a different outcome.

NSW Labor is Building the Plane while Flying It

๐—ก๐—ฆ๐—ช ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—•๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐˜„๐—ต๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—™๐—น๐˜†๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—œ๐˜ You may have read in the papers that ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—น ๐˜„๐—ถ๐—น๐—น ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜„๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—š๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐˜. This is not a decision that should be taken lightly, however, I believe that it is necessary in the interest of future and current residents.

The first reason is ๐—ณ๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€. In my first meeting with the Planning Minister (over 3 months after I requested it), I asked for a 12 month extension to consult with the community and establish proper planning for the four Transport Oriented Development precincts and he said NO. Later on I find out that he has offered similar extensions to the majority of other councils, and is using Ku-ring-gai as the scapegoat. So whatโ€™s with that? It seems like the only way to get an extension is to go to court.

The second reason is ๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด. These TOD precincts will generate over $200 million in Housing and Productivity Contributions for the State Government, but when I asked the Planning Minister to assist us with some of our most time-sensitive / critical infrastructure needs (i.e. open space, which cannot be retrofitted) he did not commit to giving us a single cent. ๐—œ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜„ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚’๐—ฑ ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—น ๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—ฎ ๐—ณ๐˜‚๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ž๐˜‚-๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด-๐—ด๐—ฎ๐—ถ, ๐—ธ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚’๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—น๐˜† ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—ฑ $๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฌ๐—บ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜ ๐—ฎ ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ณ๐—ถ๐˜…๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐˜€ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฏ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—บ๐˜€? Meanwhile, TOD Part 1 gets $520m of funding.

The third reason is out of respect for ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ. Now for those who have tracked my 6.5 years on council, I am not a heritage yes-man. On each occasion, whether it be a heritage conservation area or an individual heritage listing, I personally assess what’s proposed on its merits and I vote accordingly. Sometimes I vote in support of heritage listing. At other times I’ve been boo’d and scolded by residents during council meetings for voting against heritage protections on specific items that I didnโ€™t believe met threshold. But what NSW Labor has legislated means the complete destruction of all heritage conservation areas. I do not believe it is possible to do floor space ratio 2.5:1 and height 22m while maintaining the integrity of a garden-style heritage conservation area. And many of Ku-ring-gai’s HCA’s are definitely worth fighting for.

Like the open letter before this, it is not a matter that should be taken lightly. Having said that, when there is so much at stake then I do believe it is worth taking a risk-based approach to decision making.

I do want Ku-ring-gai to provide more housing for the residents of tomorrow, but I also want it done on fair and just terms.

Meeting the Korean Community

Yesterday we were joined by a group of Korean residents who came to learn about Australia’s three levels of government, Ku-ring-gai’s specific responsbilities and services, as well as the ways they can contribute to Ku-ring-gai’s policies and decision making. Glad to meet so many engaged residents.

Yesterday we were joined by a group of Korean residents who came to learn about Australia's three levels of government, Ku-ring-gai's specific responsbilities and services, as well as the ways they can contribute to Ku-ring-gai's policies and decision making. Glad to meet so many engaged residents.

New General Manager – David Marshall

Iโ€™m pleased to announce that Council has appointed our Acting General Manager David Marshall as Ku-ring-gaiโ€™s next General Manager.

During his seven months in the acting role, he has led a range of process improvements.

We conducted a customer service audit which led to improvements to our training, procedures and systems that will lead to more timely response in the coming months.

For residents concerned about the ongoing loss of tree canopy and habitat destruction, Council’s response is limited by State law but we have introduced order provisions under the EP&A Act to require replacement planting of illegally removed trees, with regular follow-ups and fines if the order is breached.

With our asset infrastructure backlog, we have identified new methods which may significantly bring down the cost of maintaining our ageing stormwater infrastrucutreโ€ฆ. expected savings of ~$100m over the lifetime of the assets.

We have introduced a library app and are investigating the provision of an app to cover borader council services.

We are now reviewing the Development Application process, seeing what we can do to streamline the process and improve the customer experience as a whole. Other service reviews will be announced in the coming months.

Internally, councillors are also getting better follow-up to their queries, regular activity updates, and a proactive response to regulatory change.

In particular, David has been responsive to each councillor’s concerns regarding the upcoming Transport Oriented Development and Low- and Mid-Rise Housing policy changes. His role is to proactively provide the councillors with information and options to consider, then to carry out whatever it is that Council resolves. It was also his proactivity that resulted in early resident notification in January when other councils had not yet grasped the implications.

There were other promising candidates in the selection process as well. I would have been happy to work with any of them, though was of the view that David would be the most appropriate for Ku-ring-gai at this point in time. Local Government plays a sepcial role in the community and I am encouraged at the talent that is contributing to the sector.

SILK Dining, St Ives

To celebrate the end of uni, the kids wanted Deep Fried Ice Cream so we went to SILK Dining at St Ives Shopping Village. The food is pretty amazing and generously portioned – much better than what you could get in Chatswood – and it was quite a peaceful experience on an early Monday night.

Bubs was fine with me carrying her again, so that was a bonus.

To celebrate the end of uni, the kids wanted Deep Fried Ice Cream so we went to @[100063619295866:2048:SILK Dining] at @[100063684966751:2048:St Ives Shopping Village]. The food is pretty amazing and generously portioned - much better than what you could get in Chatswood - and it was quite a peaceful experience on an early Monday night.

Bubs was fine with me carrying her again, so that was a bonus.
To celebrate the end of uni, the kids wanted Deep Fried Ice Cream so we went to @[100063619295866:2048:SILK Dining] at @[100063684966751:2048:St Ives Shopping Village]. The food is pretty amazing and generously portioned – much better than what you could get in Chatswood – and it was quite a peaceful experience on an early Monday night. Bubs was fine with me carrying her again, so that was a bonus.

General Manager Recruitment Update

Morning all!

We have had some queries about the General Manager recruitment process so I can say the following.

A. We had the help of an independent, experienced and well-priced external recruitment firm.

B. We had a large number of job applications, including several strong candidates.

C. We had a first round of interviews last month and the final round interview will be later this week. [The candidates are all fantastic and I’d be happy to work with any of them.]

D. After the final interviews, the ten councillors will likely resolve to make an offer to one of the candidates (subject to final negotiations on duration, package, etc.).

E. We probably won’t be able to announce the new General Manager until next week. Please be patient.

The recruitment process has taken up some of my time in recent weeks, but I’ve spent a larger chunk of it on housing policy.

Morning all! We have had some queries about the General Manager recruitment process so I can say the following.

A. We had the help of an independent, experienced and well-priced external recruitment firm.

B. We had a large number of job applications, including several strong candidates.

C. We had a first round of interviews last month and the final round interview will be later this week. [The candidates are all fantastic and I'd be happy to work with any of them.]

D. After the final interviews, the ten councillors will likely resolve to make an offer to one of the candidates (subject to final negotiations on duration, package, etc.).

E. We probably won't be able to announce the new General Manager until next week. Please be patient.

The recruitment process has taken up some of my time in recent weeks, but I've spent a larger chunk of it on housing policy.