KU-RING-GAI Council Keeping Residents Up to Date on Housing Policies
New housing policies called “Changes to create low and mid-rise housing” and the “Transport Oriented Development Program” are being proposed by the Minns’ NSW Government.
Ku-ring-gai Council are concerned these new policies will extensively impact Ku-ring-gai and so have dedicated a page on the Council website to keep residents informed.
The page will include information on what the proposed changes are, what it will ultimately mean for Ku-ring-gai, a visual representation of what the changes will look like, a map of where the changes will impact, and links to the Department of Planning and their submission portal.
For Ku-ring-gai, the proposed changes will increase housing in the form of dual occupancies, townhouses, terraces, and mid-rise apartments blocks surrounding train stations, town and shopping centres. Existing heritage and environment planning controls will be overridden by the State Government’s proposed changes.
‘These housing changes will have consequences on Ku-ring-gai’s traffic, amenity, stormwater, free canopy, biodiversity and character,’ says Ku-ring-gai Council Mayor Sam Ngai. ‘My concern is that with our current bottlenecks and the State Government’s proposed funding arrangements, we will not realistically be able to provide the infrastructure required for such a significant increase in housing and population.’
Council has opened access to an online survey for residents to give their opinions on the proposed housing policies. Survey results will be used to help Council’s submission to the State Government, where Council are outlining that the policies will have consequences to Ku-ring-gai.
In addition to dedicating a website page to inform residents about the policies, Council is sending out a four-page information booklet to all Ku-ring-gai residents, and held an information session on the 31st of January at the Council Chambers.
‘Although the Department of Planning isn’t seeking public consultation on some of its new policies, Council wanted to inform its residents of what the State Government is planning so they can be well informed,’ says Mayor Ngai.
