Ordinary Meeting of Council - 15 Sep 2026 7:00 PM

Topics

• Council defers St Ives Shopping Village road closures over traffic and design gaps
  The proposed closure of Denley Lane, Cowan Lane and Durham Avenue has been deferred until Iris Capital supplies compliant traffic and design plans.
  The decision delays a key part of the shopping village redevelopment and keeps Council-owned roads and land in play.
• $1 million Lindfield clubhouse upgrade nominated for grant funding
  Council confirmed $1,003,500 for a major Lindfield Soldiers Memorial Clubhouse and amenities upgrade through the Faster Assessments Incentive Program.
  The funding could deliver a substantial improvement to a community facility and sets up future competition for similar grants.
• Ku-ring-gai advances affordable-housing contribution changes
  An amended affordable housing contributions scheme will go on exhibition while related Local Environmental Plan changes are sent for state Gateway assessment.
  The changes could affect developer contributions and the delivery and long-term retention of affordable housing across Ku-ring-gai.

Decisions

• Deputy Mayor elected for two-year term
  Council used open voting and elected Councillor Devlin as Deputy Mayor for the September 2026 to September 2028 term. A proposed one-year term was defeated.
  Provides the Council’s deputy leadership arrangements for the next two years.
• Multicultural Inclusion Plan placed on exhibition
  Council endorsed the draft Multicultural Inclusion Plan 2026–2030 for public exhibition and community feedback.
  Residents and community groups can review and comment on proposed multicultural inclusion priorities.
• 2025–26 financial statements referred to audit
  Council received and certified the draft General and Special Purpose Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2026 and referred them to the Audit Office of NSW.
  Creates the formal external-audit process for Council’s financial results.
• Revised Procurement Policy adopted
  Council adopted a revised Procurement Policy.
  Changes the rules governing how Council purchases goods, services and works from suppliers.
• Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy adopted
  Council adopted the policy, effective 1 October 2026.
  Sets the arrangements for councillor expenses and use of Council facilities.
• Capital works program reset
  Council endorsed a delivery reset strategy, additional resourcing and a revised 2026–27 capital works program under the Special Rate Variation infrastructure uplift. Councillors are to receive a briefing by 15 October 2026 on the delivery strategy and possible acceleration priorities.
  May change the timing and delivery of local infrastructure projects and provides a follow-up opportunity for councillors to review priorities.
• Lindfield clubhouse nominated for grant program
  Council nominated a major upgrade of the Lindfield Soldiers Memorial Clubhouse and amenities for Round 2 of the Faster Assessments Incentive Program and confirmed $1,003,500 from the draft special rates variation program. Bannockburn Oval Little Athletics Clubhouse was identified for consideration in a future round.
  Provides a substantial funding pathway for upgrades to a local community facility and starts a process for other projects.
• St Ives road closure application deferred
  Council deferred the road closure application connected with the proposed St Ives Shopping Village redevelopment. Iris Capital must first provide a compliant traffic management plan and Design Developed Development Scheme. A new application would then need to be lodged and publicly notified if required.
  The proposed closure of Denley Lane, Cowan Lane and Durham Avenue and associated redevelopment cannot proceed through this Council process until outstanding traffic, design and legal requirements are addressed.
• Affordable housing scheme and planning proposal advanced
  Council endorsed the amended Ku-ring-gai Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme for 28 days of public exhibition and resolved to submit planning changes affecting clauses 4.6 and 6.14 of the Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015 for a Gateway determination.
  Could affect affordable-housing contributions and planning controls for future development across Ku-ring-gai.
• Terrace housing controls placed on exhibition
  Council endorsed proposed amendments to the Ku-ring-gai Development Control Plan covering multi-dwelling housing terraces and related definitions, for public exhibition.
  Residents, builders and developers will be able to comment on proposed local design and development controls for terrace housing.

Discussion

• External committee representation
  Council confirmed the continuation of its councillor appointments to external committees and organisations for the 2026–28 Mayoral term and will notify those bodies.
  Maintains Council representation in external organisations that may influence regional services and policy.
• St Ives Shopping Village redevelopment
  The road closure application concerns Council-owned local roads at Denley Lane, Cowan Lane and Durham Avenue and adjacent Council land. Council retained an in-principle willingness to consider land divestment, but any divestment requires a separate future resolution and value-protection measures.
  The project remains subject to further traffic, design, public-notification and land-disposal decisions.
• Affordable housing contribution settings
  The amended scheme and related Local Environmental Plan planning proposal will proceed through exhibition and state planning assessment. The material refers to identifying the maximum proportion of affordable housing that could be held in perpetuity rather than for only 15 years.
  May influence the amount and durability of affordable housing delivered through future development.
• Community capital project pipeline
  The Faster Assessments decision establishes a process for expressions of interest from community groups using Council buildings, with potential projects of up to $5 million in capital cost. The process is intended to recur every two years from February 2027, with an annual report to Council and criteria to be established first.
  Community organisations may be able to propose upgrades or expansions to Council facilities for future funding.
• Planning controls for terrace housing
  Proposed amendments would add local controls and definitions for terrace housing in the Ku-ring-gai Development Control Plan. The proposal will be publicly exhibited, with administrative delegation to the Director Strategy and Environment.
  Could affect the design, assessment and approval of future terrace and multi-dwelling housing.

Impacts

• Public exhibition opportunities will be available for the Multicultural Inclusion Plan, affordable housing contribution scheme and terrace-housing development controls.
• The St Ives Shopping Village road closure remains unresolved and requires further traffic and design documentation before a new application can be considered.
• A $1,003,500 allocation was confirmed for the proposed Lindfield Soldiers Memorial Clubhouse upgrade through the Faster Assessments Incentive Program.
• The revised Procurement Policy and Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy change Council’s governance arrangements, with the latter commencing on 1 October 2026.
• The 2026–27 capital works program will be reset with additional resourcing, with possible project acceleration to be considered after a councillor briefing by 15 October 2026.

Places

• St Ives (suburb)
  Location of the proposed shopping village redevelopment and associated road closure application.
• Denley Lane (road)
  Council-owned local road included in the proposed St Ives road closure.
• Cowan Lane (road)
  Council-owned local road included in the proposed St Ives road closure.
• Durham Avenue (road)
  Council-owned local road included in the proposed St Ives road closure.
• Lindfield Soldiers Memorial Clubhouse (facility)
  Proposed Round 2 Faster Assessments Incentive Program project with $1,003,500 allocated.
• Bannockburn Oval Little Athletics Clubhouse (facility)
  Identified as a possible project for a future grant round.
• Ku-ring-gai (local government area)
  Area covered by the affordable housing scheme, Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan changes.

Next

• Place the draft Multicultural Inclusion Plan 2026–2030 on public exhibition and collect community feedback.
  Following the 15 September 2026 resolution; exhibition period not specified.
• Refer the certified 2025–26 financial statements to the Audit Office of NSW.
  After certification at the meeting.
• Brief councillors on the capital works delivery strategy, priorities and acceleration options.
  By 15 October 2026.
• Prepare traffic management and design documentation and, if requirements are met, lodge a new St Ives road closure application.
  Before any further Council consideration; timing not specified.
• Place the amended Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme on public exhibition and report submissions back to Council.
  28-day exhibition, followed by a future Council report.
• Submit the planning proposal to amend clauses 4.6 and 6.14 of the Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015 for a Gateway determination.
  Following the 15 September 2026 resolution.
• Place proposed terrace-housing Development Control Plan amendments on public exhibition.
  Following the 15 September 2026 resolution.
• Establish criteria before seeking expressions of interest for the community capital project pipeline.
  Before expressions of interest begin; recurring process intended from February 2027.

Extract

Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL -OMC-Mins-2026/293170 /1 MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 Present: Councillors M Devlin & J Pettett (Comenarra Ward) Councillors I Balachandran & B Ward (Gordon Ward) Councillors S Ngai & A Taylor (Roseville Ward) Councillor M Smith & Christine Kay (St Ives Ward) Councillors C Spencer & K Wheatley (Wahroonga Ward) Staff Present: General Manager (David Marshall) Director Community (Meagan Ang) Director Corporate (Angela Apostol) Director Development & Regulation (Michael Miocic) Director Operations (Peter Lichaa) Director Strategy & Environment (Andrew Watson) Corporate Lawyer (Jamie Taylor) Manager Governance and Corporate...