Ordinary Meeting of Council - 16 Jun 2026 7:00 PM

Topics

• Council backs 29% rate revenue increase after tied vote
  Council adopted the 2026/27 budget framework with a 24.6% Special Rate Variation, breaking a 5-5 split with the Mayor’s casting vote.
  Residents will want to know the impact on rates and which services and projects the extra revenue will fund.
• Council reverts meeting rules after NSW regulation disallowed
  Ku-ring-gai has switched back to its 2024 Code of Meeting Practice after the NSW Legislative Council disallowed the newer regulation.
  This changes how Council meetings are run and can affect transparency, participation and meeting procedure.
• AED rollout approved for Council facilities
  Council approved a program to install publicly accessible AEDs across its facilities and increased the budget for the rollout.
  The change could improve emergency response times and access to life-saving equipment in public places.

Decisions

• Kings Birthday Honours recognition
  Council formally acknowledged local recipients of the King’s Birthday Honours 2026 and the Mayor was asked to write congratulatory letters.
  Recognises residents and community members for service across the area and beyond.
• Citizen’s Right of Reply and response to Member for Wahroonga
  Council endorsed a Mayoral Minute to file a Citizen’s Right of Reply and forward it to the Member for Wahroonga; an amendment seeking a stronger response was carried unanimously.
  Reflects Council’s formal response to public criticism about the Indoor Sports Centre project.
• Meeting Code of Practice reset
  Council noted the disallowance of the 2025 Model Code regulation and resolved to rescind the 21 October 2025 adoption, reverting immediately to the 22 October 2024 Code of Meeting Practice.
  Changes the rules governing how Council meetings are run and how the public can observe proceedings.
• Transport Forum recommendations adopted
  Council received the Ku-ring-gai Local Transport Forum minutes and approved its recommendations, including amended delegations for Prescribed Traffic Control Devices terms of reference.
  Affects local traffic management and transport-related decisions.
• Publicly accessible AED program approved
  Council approved implementation of an AED program across Council facilities and increased the project cost to $334,100 in 2026/27 plus annual operating costs of $80,730.
  Improves access to life-saving defibrillators at Council sites.
• Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy sent to exhibition
  The updated policy was placed on public exhibition for 28 days before any final adoption.
  May affect councillor support arrangements and Council transparency settings.
• Charles Bean Oval playing surface review
  Council resolved to obtain independent cost comparison advice for natural turf versus synthetic turf at Charles Bean Oval before making a final decision.
  Delays the surface decision while cost and construction options are assessed.
• DCP amended for housing reforms and exhibition
  Council endorsed amendments to the Ku-ring-gai Development Control Plan to align with low and mid-rise housing reforms and placed the changes on public exhibition.
  May change development controls affecting housing and redevelopment proposals across the LGA.
• Annual planning documents adopted with 24.6% SRV
  Council adopted the revised Resourcing Strategy, Delivery Program and Operational Plan using a Special Rate Variation of 24.6%, with the Mayor’s casting vote breaking a 5-5 tie.
  Will lift rate revenue and influence Council services, projects and fees from 1 July 2026.
• Tulkiyan House ownership and sustainability review
  Council adopted a notice of motion to seek Heritage Committee advice on Tulkiyan House’s legal, financial and ownership options, with expenditure limited to basic maintenance until Council considers the advice.
  Could affect the future management of a state heritage-listed property in the area.
• Marian Street Theatre project subjected to financial and community scrutiny
  Council rejected an amendment and continued debate on a motion that would require funding source clarification, updated consultation and review of the redevelopment pathway.
  Keeps open major decisions about a long-running arts infrastructure project and potential funding from the Moree Street Carpark sale.

Discussion

• Rate revenue increase and budget adoption
  The meeting endorsed the 2026/27 Budget-related documents with a 24.6% Special Rate Variation, alongside the 4.4% rate peg, creating a 29% rate revenue increase for 2026/27 after a tied vote and the Mayor’s casting vote.
  Directly affects rates, Council spending and the funding of services and capital works.
• AED rollout across Council facilities
  Council approved a publicly accessible AED program and revised the project budget upward to $334,100 in 2026/27 with ongoing annual operating costs.
  Improves emergency health access at community facilities.
• Planning controls and housing reform response
  Council placed proposed DCP amendments on exhibition to align local controls with state low and mid-rise housing reforms.
  May change the assessment framework for future housing and redevelopment applications.
• Charles Bean Oval surface decision deferred pending costing
  Rather than deciding between synthetic or natural turf, Council required independent cost comparison advice first.
  Affects recreation facilities and how the oval will be rebuilt.
• Meeting practice rules reverted after NSW disallowance
  Council moved back to the 22 October 2024 Code of Meeting Practice after the NSW Legislative Council disallowed the 2025 regulation.
  Changes meeting procedures and public access rules.
• Heritage and asset review for Tulkiyan House
  Council sought advice on ownership, management and long-term sustainability options for Tulkiyan House, including heritage and legal constraints.
  Could shape the future of a significant heritage property and its upkeep.
• Marian Street Theatre redevelopment scrutiny
  Councillors debated funding, consultation and delivery options, including use of the Moree Street Carpark sale and external community consultation.
  May influence whether and how a major arts venue project proceeds.

Impacts

• Rates are likely to rise significantly in 2026/27 if the adopted SRV proceeds.
• More Council facilities are expected to gain publicly accessible AEDs.
• Some development controls may change after public exhibition of the DCP amendment.
• Charles Bean Oval works are not yet locked in and final surface choice is pending.
• Council meeting procedures will revert to the earlier code immediately.
• Tulkiyan House spending is being constrained to basic maintenance while its future is reviewed.

Places

• Ku-ring-gai (local government area)
  Council-wide decisions on rates, planning, meeting practice and asset management.
• Wahroonga (suburb)
  Referenced in relation to the Member for Wahroonga and the Indoor Sports Centre dispute.
• Killara (suburb)
  Named in the King’s Birthday Honours recipients list.
• Gordon (suburb)
  Referenced in relation to the Marian Street Theatre project and Moree Street Carpark.
• Lindfield (suburb)
  Mentioned in the Charles Bean Oval area and Lindfield Village Hub project context.
• Charles Bean Oval (facility)
  Subject of a surface renewal review between synthetic and natural turf.
• Marian Street Theatre (facility)
  Subject of redevelopment funding and delivery debate.
• Tulkiyan House (heritage property)
  Subject of an ownership and long-term sustainability review.

Next

• Mayor to write congratulatory letters to King’s Birthday Honours recipients
  After the meeting
• Implement the AED program and proceed with procurement/installation
  2026/27
• Place the updated Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy on public exhibition for 28 days
  Immediately after exhibition begins
• Obtain independent cost comparison for Charles Bean Oval surface options and report back
  Future report to Council
• Place the DCP amendment on public exhibition
  In accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000
• Seek Heritage Committee advice on Tulkiyan House and return with a report
  At the Heritage Committee’s next meeting, then back to Council
• Provide an update report on the Lindfield Village Hub project
  By December 2026

Extract

Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL -OMC-Mins-2026/182649 /1 MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, 16 JUNE 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 (Anne Seaton) Director Operations (Peter Lichaa) Director Strategy & Environment (Andrew Watson) Corporate Lawyer (Jamie Taylor) Manag...