Ordinary Meeting of Council - 18 Aug 2026 7:00 PM

Topics

• Council backs pipeline but demands stronger safeguards before granting access to public land
  Ku-ring-gai Council reaffirmed support for the Ryde–Pymble Pipeline Upgrade while requiring evidence that environmental and community impacts have been minimised before Council-owned land is licensed.
  The project may affect trees, biodiversity, traffic, parking, public open space, pedestrian safety, schools, sporting facilities and local businesses.
• Ku-ring-gai to investigate artificial intelligence for road inspections and repairs
  Council ordered an investigation into AI-based road-condition assessment, with a report due by December 2026.
  The technology could change how road defects are detected, maintenance is prioritised and renewal money is allocated.
• New housing-reform planning controls adopted in Ku-ring-gai
  Council adopted amendments to the Ku-ring-gai Development Control Plan to align with State low- and mid-rise housing reforms.
  The changes may affect development applications, housing design and development activity across the local government area.

Decisions

• Environmental Levy grants approved
  Council endorsed 22 projects under Round 28 of the Environmental Levy Grant Program, totalling $102,005.
  Successful community and environmental projects will receive Council funding.
• Community and event sponsorship approved
  Council approved funding for events including the Wahroonga Village Fair ($12,000), Wahroonga Food and Wine Festival ($8,000), Sparkling Wahroonga ($6,250), Bobbin Head Cycle Classic ($9,000), St Ives Food and Wine ($7,000), Bare Creek Trail Run ($4,000), and other listed events.
  Local events and community activities will receive Council financial support.
• Heritage Home Grants approved
  Council approved 2026–27 Heritage Home Grant funding and waived applicable minor works application fees for successful recipients.
  Owners of eligible heritage homes may receive financial assistance and reduced application costs.
• Former Gordon Bowling Club masterplan exhibited
  Council approved the draft Landscape Masterplan for the former Gordon Bowling Club at 4 Pennant Avenue, Gordon, for public exhibition. A final plan incorporating community feedback will return to Council.
  Residents will have an opportunity to comment on the future design of this public site.
• Flood studies placed on exhibition
  Draft Lane Cove–Northern Catchments and Lane Cove–Southern Catchments Flood Studies will be publicly exhibited for 42 days.
  Residents in affected catchments can review and comment on proposed flood-risk information and management findings.
• Environmental and climate policies adopted
  Council adopted the Outdoor Lighting Policy and the Climate Change Policy 2026, amended following public exhibition.
  The policies will guide Council’s approach to outdoor lighting and climate-related planning and operations.
• Development Control Plan amended
  Council adopted amendments to the Ku-ring-gai Development Control Plan to align with State Government low- and mid-rise housing reforms, with two post-exhibition amendments and delegated correction powers.
  Future development applications and built-form controls across Ku-ring-gai may be affected.
• AI road-maintenance investigation ordered
  Council will investigate artificial-intelligence-based road asset management systems and report back by the December 2026 Ordinary Meeting, including integration with a Council-wide AI strategy.
  The investigation may affect how road defects are identified, prioritised and repaired.
• Ryde–Pymble Pipeline Upgrade oversight strengthened
  Council reaffirmed support for the Sydney Water project but required information demonstrating that reasonably practicable measures to reduce tree, biodiversity, public-land and community impacts have been investigated before considering licences over Council-owned land. Council will continue advocacy on traffic, access, safety, parking, environmental protection and restoration.
  Residents affected by construction may see continued Council advocacy and scrutiny of project impacts.
• Petitions referred for officer attention
  Council referred petitions about Thursday Night Social Tennis participant numbers, parking near Vernon Street facilities during pipeline works, airlock gates at Kissing Point Village Green Dog Park, and expanded dog access at Howson Oval to the appropriate Council officers.
  The petitions will be assessed, but no immediate change to participant limits, parking restrictions or dog-park facilities was decided.

Discussion

• Special Rate Variation accountability
  The discussion addressed how the approved Special Rate Variation will be reported, including expenditure, productivity improvements, cost containment and project delivery. The first-year plan includes $6.7 million for Council buildings, $1.9 million for parks and recreation, and $940,000 for footpaths.
  Residents will expect transparent reporting on how additional SRV income is spent and what outcomes it delivers.
• SRV project delivery and prioritisation
  A NSW Public Works review is expected to be reported in September. It will assess what can realistically be delivered in 2026–27, with possible changes to the capital works program or budget through the September Quarterly Budget Review.
  Some SRV-funded projects may be re-phased or prioritised based on readiness, need, resources and delivery capacity.
• Pipeline construction impacts
  Council considered ways to protect trees, biodiversity, public open space, traffic movement, pedestrian and cyclist safety, local access, parking and residential amenity during the Ryde–Pymble Pipeline Upgrade.
  Construction may continue to affect local roads, parks, dog facilities, schools, sporting areas and businesses.
• Active transport planning
  Council supported seeking Transport for NSW funding for feasibility assessment and concept design of an active-transport connection between Gordon and West Gordon, and considered advisory committee recommendations concerning e-bike safety.
  A future walking and cycling connection may improve local active-transport options, subject to funding and design work.
• Public project transparency
  The meeting considered requests for clearer and more frequent public reporting of SRV and Delivery Program projects, including budgets, timing, status and expenditure.
  Residents may receive more accessible information about Council projects and delivery progress.

Impacts

• Twenty-two environmental projects will share $102,005 in Environmental Levy funding.
• Community events and festivals will receive approved sponsorship funding, including major allocations in Wahroonga, Gordon-area cycling and running events, and St Ives.
• Heritage property owners receiving 2026–27 grants will have applicable minor works application fees waived.
• Residents can comment on the former Gordon Bowling Club landscape masterplan and the two draft Lane Cove catchment flood studies during public exhibition.
• Planning controls will change to align with State Government low- and mid-rise housing reforms.
• Pipeline works may continue to affect parking, traffic, access, trees, biodiversity, public open space and local amenity around South Turramurra and other affected areas.
• No immediate change was made to the Thursday Night Social Tennis participant cap or the requested Vernon Street parking restrictions; the petitions were referred for officer attention.

Places

• Ku-ring-gai (local government area)
  Council area affected by the SRV, planning controls, road maintenance and community programs.
• Gordon (suburb and project area)
  Location of the former Gordon Bowling Club masterplan and proposed Gordon–West Gordon active-transport connection.
• West Gordon (suburb)
  Potential endpoint of the proposed active-transport connection from Gordon.
• South Turramurra (suburb)
  Affected by Sydney Water pipeline works and petitions concerning Vernon Street parking and Kissing Point Village Green.
• Vernon Street (road)
  Location of the South Turramurra Dog Oval and Children’s Playground, where construction-related parking concerns were raised.
• Kissing Point Village Green (park and dog facility)
  Site of a petition requesting airlock gates at the fenced off-leash dog park.
• Howson Oval (sports ground and open space)
  Suggested alternative area for dog access and facilities during pipeline works.
• Lane Cove catchments (catchment area)
  Subject of draft northern and southern flood studies placed on exhibition.

Next

• Publicly exhibit the draft Lane Cove–Northern and Lane Cove–Southern Catchments Flood Studies.
  For 42 days; exhibition dates were not specified in the extracted text.
• Exhibit the Former Gordon Bowling Club Draft Landscape Masterplan and report a final version back to Council after considering submissions.
  Following the public exhibition period.
• Complete the NSW Public Works review and consider any required capital works or budget changes.
  Expected to be reported in September 2026, with changes considered through the September Quarterly Budget Review.
• Investigate AI-based road asset management systems and their integration with a Council-wide AI strategy.
  Report due to the December 2026 Ordinary Meeting.
• Refer the four petitions to the appropriate Council officers for assessment and attention.
  Follow-up timing was not specified.
• Continue Council advocacy and assess environmental and community information before considering licences over Council-owned land for the pipeline project.
  Before any relevant licence is considered.

Extract

Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL -OMC-Mins-2026/260307 /1 MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, 18 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) 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 Str...