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Ku-ring-gai Council

Extra Ordinary Meeting of Council - 10 Aug 2026 12:00 PM

Council unanimously directed immediate conditional steps to preserve Marian Street Theatre’s DA 0144/20 and deferred broader Gordon Ward performing-arts funding choices until strategy and grant outcomes are known.

10 August 2026Extra Ordinary Meeting of CouncilSummary available
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Articles

planning Killara theatre demolition hinges on $100,000 transfer by 12 August funding Gordon Ward asset sales, St Ives levy flagged for future infrastructure funding community services Marian Street Theatre demolition hinges on $100,000 by Wednesday other Marian Street Theatre demolition hinges on $100,000 by 12 August funding Gordon Ward performing-arts choices delayed until mid-2027 reports funding Killara community-space plans tied to 2026/27 strategy as theatre works face $100,000 condition

Related

Issue Budget, rates and governance Issue Projects and capital works Issue Funding and grants Area Marian Street Theatre Area Killara Project Marian Street Theatre Project Gordon Civic Hub Project Save Marian Street Public Fund Project Community and Cultural Facilities Strategy Project Killara Public Domain Plan

Topics

  • Council orders immediate steps to preserve Marian Street Theatre approval
    Council unanimously backed immediate preparatory works to preserve the Marian Street Theatre development approval, while linking future performing-arts funding decisions to further strategy and grant outcomes.
    Preserving the approval may keep future theatre or community-facility options open, but physical works are conditional on $100,000 being available.
  • Council to compare funding options for Gordon Ward performing-arts facilities
    Council will develop at least three options for funding and delivering performing-arts infrastructure in Gordon Ward, including Marian Street Theatre, Gordon Civic Hub or both.
    Future options could involve major capital spending and possible asset sales, affecting residents, community groups and local development priorities.
  • Marian Street approval preservation tied to possible federal grant bid
    Council noted community interest in a second-round Federal Thriving Suburbs grant application, with preservation of DA 0144/20 identified as a prerequisite.
    The timing of preservation works may affect Council’s eligibility for a potential grant and the project’s future funding options.

Decisions

  • Marian Street Theatre preservation works approved conditionally
    Council unanimously resolved to note potential State and Federal support opportunities, community fundraising claims, and interest in the Federal Thriving Suburbs Round 2 program; commence preparatory and site-establishment activities at Marian Street Theatre immediately; and condition physical internal demolition works on $100,000 being available to preserve DA 0144/20.
    This is the meeting’s main operational decision and may determine whether the existing theatre approval remains usable.
  • Future Gordon Ward performing-arts options to be reported
    Council will be presented with three or more options for funding and delivering Gordon Ward performing-arts infrastructure, such as Marian Street Theatre, Gordon Civic Hub, or both, after the relevant strategy and grant outcomes.
    Residents will receive a later report comparing major infrastructure and funding choices.

Discussion

  • Marian Street Theatre development approval
    Council unanimously adopted the amended motion concerning Marian Street Theatre and DA 0144/20.
    Residents now have a clear council direction to preserve the existing development approval while longer-term facility options are assessed.
  • Conditional preservation works
    Preparatory and site-establishment activities are to commence immediately. Physical internal demolition works required to preserve DA 0144/20 are conditional on $100,000 being available.
    Works may begin at the theatre, but the minutes do not establish that the $100,000 has already been received by Council.
  • Killara community-space planning
    Future decisions about community space in Killara will be considered through the Community and Cultural Facilities Strategy update commencing in 2026/27.
    The strategy process will shape whether and how community facilities are provided in Killara.
  • Future infrastructure funding avenues
    Future funding considerations may include asset sales in Gordon Ward and other funding avenues. Separate future consideration includes the St Ives basketball courts rates levy after the loan is fully paid.
    Potential future funding measures could affect council assets, local charges or infrastructure priorities, but no new levy was adopted at this meeting.

Impacts

  • Preparatory works at Marian Street Theatre are to begin immediately.
  • Physical internal demolition works are conditional on $100,000 being available; the minutes say the community fund reports having raised enough to assist but do not confirm receipt by Council.
  • Future decisions on community facilities in Killara and performing-arts infrastructure in Gordon Ward will follow strategy, planning and grant processes.
  • No new rates levy or asset sale was adopted at this meeting; these were identified as possible future funding avenues.

Places

  • Marian Street Theatre (facility)
    Marian Street Theatre project and DA 0144/20 preservation works
  • Killara (suburb)
    Potential future community space and performing-arts infrastructure options
  • Gordon Ward (ward)
    Potential asset sales and performing-arts infrastructure options
  • Killara Public Domain Plan (planning project)
    Public-domain planning process linked to the project
  • Community and Cultural Facilities Strategy (strategy)
    Community facilities strategy process affecting future community-space decisions
  • St Ives basketball courts (facility)
    St Ives basketball courts rates levy mentioned as a future funding consideration

Next

  • Commence preparatory and site-establishment activities at Marian Street Theatre.
    Immediately
  • Proceed with physical internal demolition works required to preserve DA 0144/20 only if $100,000 is available.
    Conditional; following availability of funding
  • Prepare three or more options for funding and delivering performing-arts infrastructure in Gordon Ward.
    After the Community and Cultural Facilities Strategy update and the expected Thriving Suburbs Round 2 outcome, both expected mid-2027
  • Present recommendations on asset sales in Gordon Ward, the St Ives basketball courts rates levy after the loan is fully paid, and other funding avenues.
    March 2027 or as part of the stated future funding processes

Extract

Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL -EMC-Mins-2026/249675 /1 MINUTES OF EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, 10 AUGUST 2026 Present: The Mayor, Councillor Christine Kay (Chairperson) Councillors M Devlin & J Pettett (Comenarra Ward) Councillors I Balachandran & B Ward (Gordon Ward) Councillors S Ngai & A Taylor (Roseville Ward) Councillor M Smith (St Ives Ward) Councillors C Spencer & K Wheatley (Wahroonga Ward) Staff Present: General Manager (David Marshall) Director Community (Meagan Ang) Director Corporate (Angela Apostol) A/Director Development & Regulation (Shaun Garland) Director Operations (Peter Lichaa) Director Strategy & Environment (Andrew Watson) Manager Governance and Corporate Strateg...