The fire-testing facility has been thrown a temporary life raft, with its lease extended into 2027.
The North Ryde site contains multiple industrial furnaces.
First opened in 1944, the facility is used for fire-resistance testing of construction materials.
“When everybody is a key worker, nobody is a key worker,” one councillor said.
If approved, the site will become home to 132 new properties.
The incident, which led to flooding at a pumping station, sent water gushing skyward.
The new design would see 3,246 square metres of bushland saved.
While federal and state parties battle themselves about the policy, Liberal Mayors across the North Shore remain committed to their net zero targets.
Councillors of Ryde insist they must be building communities, not just houses.
In 2022, Ryde Council stopped members of the public from being able to comment at meetings.
