What is the “Swiss cheese effect”, and why is Ku-ring-gai Council trying to stop it?

The next step in killing off the spectre of high rise apartment blocks plonked next to Heritage-listed properties in Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon, has been taken, following Ku-ring-gai Council’s extraordinary meeting on Thursday night (June 5).

In 2024 Ku-ring-gai council voted unanimously to take legal action against the NSW Government over the state’s plans for higher-density housing in the area. 

The mayor at the time, Sam Ngai, said the state’s push for more housing would “lead to a Swiss cheese effect in our suburbs, with multiple high-rise buildings surrounding heritage properties”. 

After the new council was voted in at the 2024 local government elections, councillors voted to enter mediation with the state government, and reached an agreement that would allow them to organise and present their own, alternative scenario for the transport oriented development areas in Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon. 

The final draft of this plan was approved by the council last night. The extraordinary meeting was called to allow councillors time to digest public submissions.

So, what has changed?

Councillor Indu Balachandran told the Lorikeet the new vision for the four suburbs has “rebalanced the 24,000 odd apartments across the four [train] stations” in an attempt to deliver housing while also preserving character and green space. The new plan also seeks to put new developments closer to necessary amenities.

The Department of Planning and Environment will decide whether the council’s alternative plan will be implemented.

The councillor was hopeful it would be accepted, given it offers the same number of dwellings.

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