planning · Ku-ring-gai Council
Wahroonga height variation approved as Ku-ring-gai panel rejects two housing projects
The panel approved alterations at 16 Illoura Avenue after granting a Clause 4.6 height variation, but refused flat-building and townhouse proposals in Turramurra and St Ives.
The Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel has approved alterations and additions at 16 Illoura Avenue, Wahroonga, while rejecting residential proposals for 5 - 7 Duff Street, Turramurra, and 14 - 18 Richard Road, St Ives. The panel also unanimously adopted a revised Code of Meeting Practice on 21 September 2026.
At the Wahroonga property, the panel accepted a request to vary the maximum building-height standard under the Ku-ring-gai Local Environmental Plan 2015. It granted development consent subject to conditions in the Development Assessment Report after finding the Clause 4.6 request met the relevant requirements and the development was in the public interest.
The consent will lapse if the approved works do not physically commence within five years of the Notice of Determination. One community submission was considered in the decision.
The panel refused consent for demolition of existing structures and construction of a residential flat building with basement car parking, landscaping and associated works at 5 - 7 Duff Street, Turramurra. Ten community submissions were considered, and the panel adopted the reasons for refusal in the Development Assessment Report.
The Turramurra application was the subject of an address against the proposal by Damien Mahoney during the public meeting.
In St Ives, the panel refused an application to demolish existing structures, build 16 townhouses and create Torrens and strata title subdivisions at 14 - 18 Richard Road. Thirty-six community submissions were considered. The recorded decision date was 17 August 2026, although the application was included in the panel’s September proceedings.
The revised meeting code was adopted unanimously, and all three development applications were decided unanimously. The new code will govern future Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel proceedings. The Wahroonga work must comply with its consent conditions, while the Turramurra and St Ives proposals were refused in their submitted forms.
Reference minutes
Source: Ku-ring-gai Council, Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel meeting held on 21 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel unanimously adopted a revised Code of Meeting Practice on 21 September 2026.
- Alterations and additions at 16 Illoura Avenue, Wahroonga, were approved with a Clause 4.6 variation to the maximum building-height standard under KLEP 2015.
- The Wahroonga consent lapses if works do not physically commence within five years of the Notice of Determination.
- A residential flat building proposed for 5 - 7 Duff Street, Turramurra, was refused after 10 community submissions were considered.
- A proposal for 16 townhouses and Torrens and strata subdivision at 14 - 18 Richard Road, St Ives, was refused after 36 submissions were considered.
- All three development applications and the revised meeting code were decided unanimously.
Why it matters
- The panel has changed the rules for future planning meetings while deciding which residential projects can proceed in Wahroonga, Turramurra and St Ives.