Duff Street flats refused as Wahroonga alterations gain height variation

Ku-ring-gai’s planning panel gave conditional consent at 16 Illoura Avenue and adopted a revised meeting code, but the minutes do not detail the code changes.

Council: Ku-ring-gai Council

Meeting: 21 Sep 2026 12:30 PM

Recorded status: mixed


BRIEF

Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel refused flats at 5 - 7 Duff Street, Turramurra, and granted conditional consent for alterations at 16 Illoura Avenue, Wahroonga, including a building-height variation. Its public minutes record both decisions and adoption of a revised meeting code on 21 September 2026. Detailed refusal reasons, approval conditions and code changes are not reproduced.


KEY FACTS

- The panel refused eDA0131/26 for a residential flat building at 5 - 7 Duff Street, Turramurra.

- Alterations and additions at 16 Illoura Avenue, Wahroonga, received consent subject to assessment-report conditions.

- The Illoura Avenue approval included a variation to the maximum building-height standard.

- The panel recorded consideration of ten submissions for Duff Street and one for Illoura Avenue.

- The revised Code of Meeting Practice was adopted; all three decisions were dated 21 September 2026 and recorded as unanimous.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- The record confirms that a height variation was accepted at Illoura Avenue, but does not quantify it. The extent of that departure cannot be assessed from these minutes alone.


QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING

- What planning grounds in the Development Assessment Report supported refusal of the Duff Street proposal?

- What height and variation were approved at Illoura Avenue, and what conditions apply?

- Which provisions changed in the adopted Code of Meeting Practice?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- Approved works at Illoura Avenue must physically commence within five years of the Notice of Determination to avoid the consent lapsing.


SOURCE PASSAGES

The revised Code of Meeting Practice was adopted unanimously on 21 September 2026.
"provide the Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel with a revised Code of Meeting Practice for adoption. THE PANEL RESOLVED: A. The Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel adopted the revised Code of Meeting Practice B. Date of Decision: 21 September 2026 Voting: Unanimous KLPP35 16 Illoura Avenue, Wahroonga - Alterations and additions File: EDA0305/26 Vide: GB.2 Alterations and additions THE PANEL RESOLVED: A." (Page 2, KLPP34 / GB.1)

The panel found that the request to vary the maximum building-height standard met Clause 4.6(3) and that sufficient environmental planning grounds justified the variation.
"The Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel, exercising the functions of Ku-ring-gai Council, as the consent authority, pursuant to Section 4.16 of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979, is satisfied that the request submitted under Clause 4.6 to vary the maximum Height of Buildings development standard in Clause 4.3 of KLEP 2015 has met the requirements of Clause 4.6(3). The Panel is also of the opinion that strict compliance with the development standard is unreasonable or unnecessary in the circumstances of the case and that there are sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify the variation to the development standard." (Page 2, KLPP35 / GB.2, resolution A)

Illoura Avenue received conditional consent, with a five-year physical-commencement requirement measured from the Notice of Determination.
"B. The Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel, exercising the functions of Ku-ring-gai Council, as the consent authority, pursuant to Section 4.16 of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979, being satisfied that the proposed development would be in the public interest, granted development consent to eDA0305/26 for alterations and additions at No. 16 Illoura Avenue, Wahroonga, subject to conditions in the Development Assessment Report. Pursuant to Section 4.53 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, this consent lapses if the approved works are not physically commenced within five years of the date of the Notice of Determination." (Page 2, KLPP35 / GB.2, resolution B)

The decision was dated 21 September 2026; one community submission was considered and voting was recorded as unanimous.
"Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-KLPP-Mins-2026/290583 /3 C. Date of Decision: 21 September 2026 D. Reason for the Decision: The Panel concurred with the recommendation in Council's Development Assessment Report and the conditions of consent. E. How community views were taken into consideration: The views of the community were requested by way of notification of the application in accordance with Council's Community Participation Plan and there was one submission received which was considered as part of this determination. Voting: Unanimous KLPP36 5-7 Duff Street, Turramurra - Demolition of existing structures and construction of a residential flat building with basement car parking, landscaping and associated works File: EDA0131/26 Vide: GB.3 Demolition of existing structures and construction of a residential flat building with basement car parking, landscaping and associated works THE PANEL RESOLVED: A." (Page 3, KLPP35 / GB.2, resolutions C–E and voting)

The panel refused the Duff Street application for the assessment report's reasons, with a decision date of 21 September 2026.
"The Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel, exercising the functions of Ku-ring-gai Council, as the consent authority, pursuant to Section 4.16 of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979, refused development consent to eDA0131/26 for demolition of existing structures and construction of a residential flat building with basement car parking, landscaping and associated works at No. 5 and 7 Duff Street, Turramurra, for the reasons in the Development Assessment Report. B. Date of Decision: 21 September 2026 C. Reason for the Decision: The Panel concurred with the recommendation in Council's Development Assessment Report and the reasons for refusal." (Page 3, KLPP36 / GB.3, resolutions A–C)

Ten submissions were considered as part of the determination, and voting was recorded as unanimous.
"D. How community views were taken into consideration: The views of the community were requested by way of notification of the application in accordance with Council's Community Participation Plan and there were ten submissions received which were considered as part of this determination. Voting: Unanimous KLPP37 14 - 18 Richard Road, St Ives - Demolition of existing structures and construction of multi-dwelling housing (16 townhouses) and Torrens and strata title subdivision File: EDA0218/26 Vide: GB.4 Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-KLPP-Mins-2026/290583 /4 Demolition of existing structures and construction of multi-dwelling housing (16 townhouses) and Torrens and strata title subdivision THE PANEL RESOLVED: A." (Page 3, KLPP36 / GB.3, resolution D and voting)

Damien Mahoney addressed the panel against the Duff Street application.
"No interests were declared by staff or Panel members. ADDRESS TO THE PANEL The following speaker addressed the Panel on the following items on the agenda: GB.3 5-7 Duff Street, Turramurra - Demolition of existing structures and construction of a residential flat building with basement car parking, landscaping and associated works Against the application: Damien Mahoney Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-KLPP-Mins-2026/290583 /2 The public meeting closed at 12:43 PM The determination meeting commenced at 12:44 PM GENERAL BUSINESS KLPP34 Revised Code of Meeting Practice for the Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel File: CY00554/9 Vide: GB.1 To" (Pages 1–2, Address to the Panel, GB.3)

The minutes record confirmation as a full and accurate record of the 21 September 2026 meeting by David Lloyd KC on 21 September 2026.
"Voting: Unainmous The determination meeting closed at 12:45 PM Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-KLPP-Mins-2026/290583 /5 Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-KLPP-Mins-2026/290583 /6 Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-KLPP-Mins-2026/290583 /7 Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-KLPP-Mins-2026/290583 /8 Minute KU-RING-GAI COUNCIL Page 20260921-KLPP-Mins-2026/290583 /9 The Minutes of the Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel Meeting held on 21 September 2026 (Pages 1 - 9) were confirmed as a full and accurate record of proceedings by the Hon. David Lloyd KC on 21 September 2026. __________________________ Chairperson" (Page 9, confirmation certificate)


SOURCES

https://kuringgai.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/09/KLPP_21092026_MIN.PDF

https://minutesradar.com/news/ku-ring-gai-infocouncil-ku-ring-gai-local-planning-panel-21-sep-2026-12-30-pm-21-sep-2026-12-30-pm-minutes-wahroonga-height-variation-appro-c417ff93ca/


Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.