Month: June 2024

Unaffordable Auckland

Read Cameron Murray’s study that dismantles the Auckland myth. Density did NOT create affordable housing.

#Auckland density #Cameron Murray dismantles Auckland density myth #Ku-ring-gai #Ku-ring-gai Council #Ku-ring-gai Environment #Ku-ring-gai Overdevelopment #Ku-ring-gai Planning #NSW Housing Policy #The Auckland Myth #TOD

Why isn’t Minns worried about NSW’s housing debt?

Why isn’t Premier Chris Minns telling the public about the financial costs that the Transport Oriented Development and Low and Mid-Rise Housing will bring to NSW? Some say it will cost NSW $410 billion?

#Ku-ring-gai #Ku-ring-gai Council #Ku-ring-gai Overdevelopment #Ku-ring-gai Planning #NSW Housing Policy #Premier Chris Minns Housing Policy #TOD

SMH Asked? FOKE Answered.

Read what a Sydney Morning Herald journalist asked FOKE. Read FOKE’s reply.

Ku-ring-gai’s C.E.W. Bean honoured by UNESCO

Former Co-founder and President of FOKE, Anne Carroll OAM, talked about the life and work of her grandfather, Charles E.W. Bean at the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society meeting on 22 June, 2024.

Charles Bean (1879-1968) was a historian and an Australian war correspondent. He was editor and principal author of the 12-volume Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918, and a primary advocate for establishing the Australian War Memorial (AWM). He was also a conservationist as the founder of the Parks and Playgrounds Movement of NSW which he established in 1930.

Many consider Ku-ring-gai as the birthplace of the Australian conservation movement with conservationists such as Charles Bean, Annie Wyatt, Eccleston du Faur, John Sulman, Paddy Pallin, Robert Pallin, Nancy Pallin, Alex Colley, Charlie Veron.

C.E.W. Bean’s diaries, photographs and records are recognised by the National Committee of Australia Memory of the World (AMW) listing. UNESCO Australian Memory of the World (AMW) Program honours documentary heritage of significance for Australia and the world, and advocates for its preservation. Find out more HERE

#Ku-ring-gai #Ku-ring-gai - birthplace of the Australian environment movement #Ku-ring-gai Birthplace of the NSW Environment movment #Ku-ring-gai Conservationists #Ku-ring-gai Environmentalists

Low & Mid-Rise Threats

Watch Ku-ring-gai Council explain the planning disaster that is coming to every street that is 800 metres from a train station or large supermarket

#800 metres planning #Ku-ring-gai #Ku-ring-gai Council #Ku-ring-gai Environment #Ku-ring-gai Heritage. #Ku-ring-gai Overdevelopment #Ku-ring-gai Planning #Ku-ring-gai Urban Forest #Low and Mid Rise Housing SEPP #NSW Housing Policy

Trees – a timely reminder

If you missed Ku-ring-gai Councils Tree Forum on 26 March, 2024 it is worthy watching again – especially in light of the NSW Governments ‘deforestation designed’ planning SEPPs

#Canopy trees #Ku-ring-gai Environment #Ku-ring-gai Overdevelopment #Ku-ring-gai Planning #Ku-ring-gai Urban Forest #Ku-ring-gai's environment #Ku-ring-gai's trees #Low & Mid Rise Housing Tree Threats #NSW Housing Policy #Sydney Trees #TOD #TOD tree threats #Tree protection #Urban deforestation #Urban trees

Vale Jennifer Harvey

Jennifer Harvey,
10 August 1946 – 11 May 2024

#FOKE #Gordon Railway Station #Jennifer Harvey #Ku-ring-gai Heritage #Ku-ring-gai Heritage Advisory Committee #Ku-ring-gai Historian

Disallow and STOP the TODs

says Scott Farlow, MLC & Shadow Minister for Planning

#Ku-ring-gai #Ku-ring-gai Council #Ku-ring-gai Environment #Ku-ring-gai Heritage. #Ku-ring-gai Overdevelopment #Ku-ring-gai Planning #Ku-ring-gai Urban Forest #NSW Housing Policy #Scott Farlow #Scott Farlow's TOD Disallowance BIll #TOD #TOD Disallowance Bill #TOD Disallowance Bill 2024

FOKE’s evidence against TOD

Read FOKE’s evidence against the TOD

#FOKE #FOKE Evidence against Development of the Transport Oriented Development Program #FOKE Evidence against TOD #FOKE evidence to Portfolio Committee No.7 Planning & Environment Committee #FOKE Submission against TOD #Ku-ring-gai #Ku-ring-gai Environment #Ku-ring-gai Heritage. #Ku-ring-gai Overdevelopment #Ku-ring-gai Planning #Ku-ring-gai Urban Forest #NSW Housing Policy #TOD

Minns forgets his “avalanche of many ugly, poorly built developments” speech

FOKE wishes to remind Premier Chris Minns what he said on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on 8 August 2018 about planning for Greater Sydney.

Read the full speech on Hansard

Read Premier Minns and his TOD SEPP by:

Paul Scully, MP, Minister for Planning & Public Spaces State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) Amendment (Transport Oriented Development) 2024 under the Environmental and Planning Act 1979 HERE

18 June, 2024

#Changes to create low and mid-rise housing #Chris Minns #Ku-ring-gai #Ku-ring-gai Council #Ku-ring-gai Environment #Ku-ring-gai Heritage. #Ku-ring-gai Overdevelopment #Ku-ring-gai Planning #NSW Housing Policy #NSW Planning Reforms #Overdevelopment #TOD

345 Pac Hwy, Lindfield must not set dangerous precedent

See GB.11, Agenda, Ku-ring-gai Council meeting, Tues 18 June 2024 at 7pm HERE

A private Planning Proposal has been received by Ku-ring-gai Council for 345 Pacific Highway (opposite the new Coles development) on the corner of one of the Ku-ring-gai’s most dangerous intersections on the Pacific Hwy, Balfour Road and the Havilah Road underpass.

This Planning Proposal is not supported in its current form. However the Ku-ring-gai Planning Panel and Council Officers are recommending to allow 12 storey heights & Floor Space Ratio to 3.5: 1 on this site, by amending the Ku-ring-gai LEP.

Amending the Ku-ring-gai LEP to allow 12 storeys on this site would set a dangerous precedent for all other local centres in Ku-ring-gai, including St Ives.

Currently the KLEP 2015 allows for up to a 9 storey development in this E1 zone.

The TOD SEPP which Council is challenging in the Land and Environment Court only allows 6-8 storeys on this site and a FSR of 2.5:1.

So why is Council considering amending the Ku-ring-gai LEP to allow 12 storeys?

The proposed amendment will set new height and built upon standards not just for Lindfield but for the whole of Ku-ring-gai. This is something that should NOT BE SUPPORTED.

Please send an email to all Ku-ring-gai Councillors

Then copy your email to MPs:

Matt Cross MP davidson@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Alister Henskens SC MP wahroonga@parliament.nsw.gov.au

11 June, 2024

Forums on Low & Mid-rise Housing

It is important that you attend Ku-ring-gai Councils public forums that will explain the NSW Governments LOW AND MID-RISE housing plans and their potential impacts on your neighbourhood.

The low and mid-rise housing provisions are due to come into effect in mid 2024. They aim to provide Sydney with 377,000 new homes.

They propose terraces and manor houses (two storey apartment blocks) on sites within 800 metres of all train stations, and other major retail areas such as St Ives Shopping Village.

Dual occupancies will also be allowed in most residential zones across NSW, providing a site is larger than 450 square metres. See more information HERE

Register to attend HERE

Gordon Mon 17 June 6.30-8.30pm Council Chambers
Commenara Thurs 20 June 6.30-8.30pm Turramurra Masonic Hall
Wahroonga Tues 25 June 6.30-8.30pm Turramurra Masonic Hall
St Ives Wed 26 June 6.30-8.30pm Christ Church
Roseville Mon 1 July 6.30-8.30pm St Albans Church Hall

READ Low-and Mid-Rise Housing Polich Refinement Paper, Version 1.0 Prepared by DPHI LMR Policy Team, 29 April, 2024 HERE

11 June, 2024

TOD Disallowance Bill

Read more about the TOD Disallowance Bill HERE

Scott Farlow, MLC & Shadow Minister for Planning, has introduced a Private members Bill into the Legislative Council. This Bill is the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to enable State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) Amendment (Transport Oriented Development) 2024. The aim is to disallow the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program that is a blunt and one-size-fits all instruments that will have catastrophic impacts on Ku-ring-gai s tree canopy, environment, heritage and amenity.

On 5th June 2024, Scott Farlow said:

“The Coalition supports measures, including increasing density along transport corridors, to meet ambitious housing targets, but they must be done right and in consultation with local communities. This has not been the case with the Transport Oriented Development State Environmental Planning Policy, which provided no opportunity for community consultation despite increased community participation being an object of the Act”.

Read FULL STATEMENT HERE

The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council.

Please urge MLCs to vote for the TOD Disallowance Bill.

Please ADAPT and EDIT in your own words the letter below:

Letter-to-Crossbench-seeking-their-support-for-TOD-Disallowance-Bill-1 Download

Then send the email to each member of the crossbench asking them to support the Disallowance Bill.

Their contact emails are HERE

Legislative-Council-Crossbench-2024-2 Download

Legislative-Assembly-Crossbench-2024-1 Download

Read TOD SEPP by:

18 June, 2024

#Ku-ring-gai #Ku-ring-gai Council #Ku-ring-gai Environment #Ku-ring-gai Heritage. #Ku-ring-gai Overdevelopment #Ku-ring-gai Planning #Ku-ring-gai Urban Forest #NSW Housing Policy #Scott Farlow's TOD Disallowance BIll #TOD #TOD Disallowance Bill

Ku-ring-gai remains steadfast on TOD legal action

FOKE thanks Ku-ring-gai Councillors who voted to continue the legal action against the NSW Governments undemocratic and environmentally and heritage destructive Transport Oriented Development (TOD) program.

A majority of nine councillors stood steadfast in their support to continue the legal action against the TOD.

Watch Ku-ring-gai Council meeting HERE.

Since coming into effect on 13 May, 2024, the TOD continues to cause anguish, distress and despair for residents and particularly to those living within 400 metres of Gordon, Killara, Lindfield and Roseville Stations.

The TOD will allow 6 to 7 storey apartment buildings on most sites within 400 metres of Gordon, Killara, Lindfield and Roseville railway stations.

Residents remain in shock to think that a NSW Government would allow Ku-ring-gai’s unique and irreplaceable heritage and environment to be so willfully destroyed by developers.

Many residents are now being threatened with financial and housing insecurity. Those living within the TOD are being pressured to sell their properties with threats that if they don’t their properties will be devalued.

Ku-ring-gai Councillors know they have no choice but to take legal action. The NSW Government has shown no indication that they will negotiate with Council. Instead, Minns appears determined to push through this undemocratic TOD hyper-overdevelopment SEPP that will be catastrophic for not only Ku-ring-gais heritage and environment but NSWs.

It is pleasing to hear that the NSW Liberals are prepared to overturn the TOD program.

We now have hope that Councils legal challenge and the Coalitions Disallowance Bill will stop the disastrous TOD.

Postscript

Read TOD SEPP by:

#Ku-ring-gai #Ku-ring-gai Council #Ku-ring-gai Council legal action against TOD #Ku-ring-gai Environment #Ku-ring-gai Heritage. #Ku-ring-gai Overdevelopment #Ku-ring-gai Planning #Ku-ring-gai Urban Forest #NSW Housing Policy #TOD