Ordinary Meeting of Council - 20 Oct 2026 7:00 PM

Topics

• Council puts Ku-ring-gai tourism strategy out for public comment
  A new 2026–2030 destination-management plan will go on public exhibition after Council endorsement.
  Residents, tourism operators and local businesses can influence the proposed direction for destination management.
• Tulkiyan house museum plan faces cost and feasibility test
  Council has ordered a detailed financial and feasibility review before deciding how Tulkiyan could operate as a house museum.
  The review will test projected costs, visitation and potential financial returns for a prominent heritage property.
• Ku-ring-gai defers decision on 53 potential heritage items
  Council delayed consideration of a preliminary assessment covering 53 heritage items until November, while four further assessments go to affected owners.
  The outcome may affect property owners and future development controls.

Decisions

• Draft Ku-ring-gai Destination Management Plan endorsed for exhibition
  Council endorsed the draft Ku-ring-gai Destination Management Plan 2026–2030 and resolved to place it on public exhibition for community feedback.
  Residents and local businesses will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed direction for tourism and destination management.
• Annual financial statements received
  Council received the audited General and Special Purpose Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2026 and the Audit Office of NSW auditor’s report.
  The statements provide the public record of Council’s financial position and performance.
• Further investigation ordered for Tulkiyan heritage property
  Council received the report on Tulkiyan, 707 Pacific Highway, Gordon, and required a further report detailing ongoing management and maintenance costs, projected costs for implementing the approved development application and opening the property as a house museum, and the scope and indicative cost of a specialist feasibility study.
  Future decisions about the property will be informed by costs, projected visitation, potential financial returns and alternative uses or custodial arrangements.
• Heritage assessment of 53 items deferred
  Council deferred consideration of the findings of the preliminary assessment of 53 heritage items until the November 2026 Ordinary Meeting. Further assessments of four items are to be released immediately to the affected owners.
  Owners and residents affected by potential heritage listings will receive more information before Council considers the assessment findings.
• Marian Street Theatre site motion carried
  Council carried the motion concerning the Marian Street Theatre site. The resolution noted that $34,924.61 was spent on works to preserve DA0144/20 and that the remaining $65,075.39 from the Save Marian Street Public Fund would be returned. It also noted ongoing community efforts to seek government funding and that the site remains zoned MU1 Mixed Use.
  The decision returns unused donated funds while leaving open future funding efforts for the theatre site; the existing zoning is unchanged.
• Independent financial feasibility assessment required for confidential development proposal
  After considering a confidential commercial-information matter in closed session, Council deferred consideration of granting owner’s consent until an independent assessment is obtained for the development’s financial feasibility, both with and without the 30% height and floor-space bonus. The applicant must reimburse Council for the assessment cost before the matter returns.
  The development proposal cannot proceed to the relevant owner’s-consent decision until the independent financial and affordable-housing assessment is completed.
• Submission on Financial Assistance Grants methodology endorsed
  Council endorsed a submission already lodged with the NSW Local Government Grants Commission opposing or responding to proposed changes to the methodology for allocating Financial Assistance Grants to NSW councils.
  Changes to the grants methodology could affect Council’s future external funding.

Discussion

• Destination management and public exhibition
  The draft Ku-ring-gai Destination Management Plan 2026–2030 was endorsed for public exhibition.
  Community members and businesses can provide feedback on the proposed tourism and destination-management strategy.
• Tulkiyan house museum feasibility
  Council requested detailed costs and a specialist feasibility-study scope covering a possible house museum, projected visitation, financial returns, alternative uses and custodial arrangements.
  The requested work will shape whether and how the heritage property is opened or adapted for public use.
• Heritage property assessments
  The assessment of 53 heritage items was deferred to November, while further assessments of four items are to be provided to affected owners immediately.
  The deferral provides additional time for review before potential heritage-related decisions.
• Marian Street Theatre funding and land status
  Council returned the unused balance of the Save Marian Street Public Fund and recorded that community efforts to obtain federal and state funding may continue. The MU1 Mixed Use zoning remains unchanged.
  The resolution affects the handling of donated money and the prospects for future theatre funding, without changing zoning.
• Council project reporting
  Council received the Project Status Report for July to September 2026 and resolved that it be published on Council’s website.
  Residents will be able to access the latest public update on Council projects.
• Planning controls update
  Council received and noted an update on actions arising from the 2024 Ku-ring-gai Development Control Plan housekeeping amendment and related Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015 amendments.
  The update concerns ongoing maintenance and implementation of local planning controls.

Impacts

• Residents can comment on the draft Ku-ring-gai Destination Management Plan during its public exhibition.
• Owners of properties among the 53 heritage items will receive further assessment information before Council considers the matter in November.
• Council will seek more detailed financial and feasibility information before making further decisions about Tulkiyan at 707 Pacific Highway, Gordon.
• The unused $65,075.39 balance of the Save Marian Street Public Fund will be returned, while efforts to secure external funding for the Marian Street Theatre can continue.
• A confidential development proposal is delayed pending an independent financial feasibility assessment, including consideration of affordable housing benefits.
• The Council project status report for July–September 2026 is to be made available on Council’s website.

Places

• Tulkiyan, 707 Pacific Highway, Gordon (heritage property)
  Subject of further cost, maintenance and house-museum feasibility reporting.
• Marian Street Theatre site, 2 Marian Street, Killara (theatre site)
  Subject of funding, planning and land-status decisions.
• Ku-ring-gai (local government area)
  Area covered by the destination-management plan, planning-control updates and financial-grants submission.

Next

• Place the draft Ku-ring-gai Destination Management Plan 2026–2030 on public exhibition and invite community feedback.
  Following the 20 October 2026 meeting; exhibition period not specified.
• Prepare a further report on Tulkiyan covering management and maintenance costs, approved-development costs, house-museum preparation, and a specialist feasibility-study scope.
  Future Council meeting; date not specified.
• Release the further heritage assessments of four items to the affected property owners.
  Immediately.
• Return the $65,075.39 balance of the Save Marian Street Public Fund.
  Following the meeting; exact timing not specified.
• Publish the Project Status Report for July–September 2026 on Council’s website.
  Following the meeting; exact timing not specified.
• Obtain an independent financial feasibility assessment for the confidential development proposal, with and without the 30% height and floor-space bonus.
  Before the matter returns to Council; the applicant must reimburse the assessment cost.
• Consider the preliminary heritage assessment of 53 items and the four further assessments.
  November 2026 Ordinary Meeting.

Extract

Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL -OMC-Mins-2026/330197 /1 MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2026 Present: The Mayor, Councillor K Wheatley (Chairperson) Councillors M Devlin & J Pettett (Comenarra Ward) Councillors I Balachandran & B Ward (Gordon Ward) Councillors S Ngai & A Taylor (Online) (Roseville Ward) Councillor M Smith & Councillor C Kay (St Ives Ward) Councillors C Spencer (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 (Jam...