More homes, better heritage protection: Ku-ring-gai strikes housing deal with state

Ku-ring-gai council and the state Department of Planning have come to an agreement over the LGA’s plans to provide more housing for Sydney. 

The agreement concludes the council's legal battle with the NSW government, in which they took to the Land and Environmental Court, seeking the housing policy known as Transport-Oriented-Development (TOD) to be declared invalid.

What happened: An alternative plan, put forward by the council earlier this year, will provide around 3300 more new homes than the state’s original plan.

The difference, the council claims, is that its plan will protect built heritage, tree canopy, and place new developments closer to amenities.

How did we get here: In May last year, KRG council voted unanimously to take legal action against the NSW Government’s transport-oriented development housing policy. This policy affected the suburbs of Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, and Gordon. 

• At the time, Mayor Sam Ngai claimed the policy would result in a “swiss cheese effect” across the LGA, placing high rise apartment blocks next to heritage properties. 

• Later that year, a newly elected council moved toward a less adversarial approach, entering into mediation with the state. This most recent result has come about as part of this process.

What will it look like: The alternative plan put forward by the council largely focuses on shifting higher density housing towards the hubs of Lindfield and Gordon while opting for more moderate development in Killara and Roseville. 

• This decision was made, in part, because the latter suburbs lack existing amenities — supermarkets, for instance — to support an increased population.

What now: The council formally discontinued its legal action against the state in its Tuesday council meeting this week.