Ordinary Meeting of Council - 19 May 2026 7:00 PM

Topics

• Council backs submission on state planning consultation rules
  Council has endorsed a submission on NSW’s draft Statewide Community Participation Plan, which could alter how residents are consulted on planning matters.
  This may affect community notification and participation in development decisions across Ku-ring-gai.
• Heritage committee to gain First Nations expertise
  Council has reappointed two community members to its Heritage Reference Committee and added a new position for someone with Aboriginal heritage or cultural authority.
  The change may influence how heritage advice is formed and strengthen First Nations input into local heritage decisions.

Decisions

• Submission on draft Statewide Community Participation Plan endorsed
  Council noted that the NSW draft plan would replace Council’s existing Community Participation Plan for planning matters and endorsed the draft submission to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
  Affects how residents are consulted on planning decisions and community participation rules.
• Heritage Reference Committee memberships renewed and expanded
  Council reappointed Dr Zeny Edwards and Mr Chris Bluett to the Heritage Reference Committee and amended the Terms of Reference to add a community representative with Aboriginal heritage, cultural knowledge or cultural authority, plus relevant heritage-related skills.
  Affects how heritage advice is shaped, including stronger First Nations representation in local heritage matters.

Discussion

• Statewide planning consultation framework
  The draft Statewide Community Participation Plan was considered because it would replace Council’s existing community participation plan for planning matters.
  Could change how residents are notified and consulted on development and planning proposals.
• Heritage governance
  Council reviewed current community membership of its Heritage Reference Committee and decided to keep the existing community members while broadening representation.
  May influence advice on heritage conservation, planning and cultural matters in Ku-ring-gai.

Impacts

• Planning consultation processes may change if the Statewide Community Participation Plan is adopted.
• Heritage decision-making will include an added community voice with Aboriginal heritage expertise or cultural authority.

Places

• Ku-ring-gai (local government area)
  Primary council area affected by the planning and heritage decisions.

Next

• Submit Council’s endorsed response to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
  Following the public exhibition process
• Update the Heritage Reference Committee Terms of Reference and reappoint members
  Immediately after the Council decision

Extract

Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL -OMC-Mins-2026/151116 /1 MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, 19 MAY 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) Acting Director Development & Regulation (Shaun Garland) Director Operations (Peter Lichaa) Director Strategy & Environment (Andrew Watson) Corporate Lawyer (Jamie Taylor)...