The NSW Government and Ku-ring-gai Council have come to some agreement regarding the Transport Oriented Development (TOD).
Earlier in 2024, Ku-ring-gai Council pushed back against the Minns Government’s new housing policy, which would see mass development erupt 400-metres around the Roseville, Lindfield, Gordon, and Killara train stations. Resolving to begin legal proceedings against the state government, Ku-ring-gai has been digging its heels in to stop, what they believe to be, development that would damage tree canopy and heritage conservation areas.
The mediation agreement involves Council continuing public consultation on alternative planning scenarios and putting forth proposals for approval in the February and April 2025 Ordinary Meetings.
The legal case is still pending and will remain unless the parties can come to a final settlement by way of the mediation agreement.
The Minns’ Government released a statement in early December supporting Council’s local planning controls for the TODS, to which Mayor Christine Kay expressed the Council’s support.
‘Today’s statement confirms the importance of this work and simply gives this council the same status as other Sydney councils who’ve prepared locally-responsive plans in the TOD precincts,’ says Mayor Kay. ‘Ku-ring-gai Council is willing to do its bit to support housing supply, but in a way which is responsive to our unique local area.’
In the event that an alternative proposal is finalised, implementation will occur in or before May 2025. In case this does not occur, a hearing date for the legal proceedings is slated for June 2025, and both parties are to continue preparation for the hearing.
Four alternative scenarios were put forward by Council in November, including the states’ initial controls. Each scenario is subject to deliver over 23,200 homes in over 15 years to the Ku-ring-gai area.
Community group Friends of Ku-ring-gai (FOKE) have been notably against the TOD implementation. Online, FOKE publicly released their submission to Council regarding the alternative scenarios, stating that “all alternative scenarios abandon robust planning assessment” and that “all scenarios will negatively impact on neighbourhood character, tree canopy and green spaces, biodiversity, privacy, traffic and parking, heritage, infrastructure as well as setting precedents for increased heights”.
As with every update concerning Ku-ring-gai and the TODS, residents have been sounding off on social media. Some ridicule Council for the succumbing to the demands of NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) who refuse development. Others point out that is it shameful that while the rest of the state is taking the new controls in stride, Ku-ring-gai is using ratepayers’ dollars to dig in its heels.