FOKE talk about NSW Labor + NSW Liberal’s CATASTROPHIC NSW enviro+ planning bill

Read FOKE’s powerpoint presentation below:

Talk on new enviro+planning Bill at WildThings 26.10.25Download





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PO Box 584, Gordon NSW 2072

FOKE AWARDS:

  • 2016 NATIONAL TRUST HERITGE AWARDS HIGHLY COMMENDED
  • 2009 NATIONAL TRUST HERITAGE AWARDS HIGHLY COMMENDED
  • 2008 NSW GOVERNMENT HERITAGE VOLUNTEERS AWARD
  • WINNER NSW HERITAGE OFFICE AWARD
  • “HERITAGE WATCH OVER OUR PLACE OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE – KU-RING-GAI”

Is NSW returning to a corruption state?

In March 2024 FOKE’s submission to the Inquiry into Development of the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Program was made ‘partially confidential’. Why?

Because FOKE dared suggesting that the NSW Government’s planning reforms risked NSW returning to ‘a corruption state’.

Now journalist Michael Sainsbury has published the article Back to Obeid? Fast-track housing laws a stalking house for fast-track mines. He, asks whether NSW could return to the Obeid days with the new fast-track planning laws for ‘housing’ and which give the NSW Planning Minister unprecedented approval powers.

Despite the Minns Government consulting with ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) it seems that they are silent at this stage. The new planning laws will concentrate power in the Planning Minister (Mr Paul Scully) and the Secretary of the NSW Planning Department (Ms Kiersten Fishburn).

Many remember how this was when the last Labor Planning Minister Ian Macdonald used similar powers through the then known controversial Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. When the Liberals were elected in 2011 one of the first things they did was overturn the controversial Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

The new Planning System Reform Bill (2025) appears to fast-track all development for approval.

Sue Higginson, Greens MLC has expressed strong concern that the planning reforms, despite the claim they are there to address the housing affordability, will have huge ramifications of the entire NSW planning system – particularly with mining proposals.

Few would guess the changes to the planning act have their origin in unlocking mining approvals and not housing, which Minns and Scully spruke.

The justification to modernise the NSW planning system is now an excuse to fast tracking development and abandon environmental protection.

The Bill proposes to enshrine into Legislation the controversial Housing Delivery Authority, the Investment Delivery Authority and the Development Co-ordination Authority.

ICAC legislation encourages the Government to consult with them when introducing new laws but the government can chose not to take ICAC’s advice.

The new laws have kept the public in the dark. Ther has been no parliamentary or public consultation with communities. The Liberal Party has expressed support for the Bill.

It is believed that the motivation for the new legislation has arisen because a new mine was rejected by the NSW Court of Appeal.

It is also understood that Silver Mines Limited has had seemingly unfettered access to the NSW Government and who receive strong support of Ministers to get their project back on track.

The CEO of Silver Mines, Jo Battershill, in an address to the Beaver Creek Precious Metals summit, has said publicly that ‘Silver Mines has the full support of the NSW Government’.

The Sydney Retired Unionists Group are deeply concerned about the systemic problem of powerful vested interests capturing government. Is this what is happening now with the NSW Planning laws?

Read more HERE



Read Legislative Assembly Hansard – 17 September 2025 HERE

Read Environmental Planning and Assessment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025 HERE

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Say NO to Labor/Liberal Planning Changes

The NSW Liberal Party is now fully behind Labor’s new planning laws that will decimate not only Ku-ring-gai’s, but NSW’s environment.

It is urgent that you write and oppose Labor and Liberal’s new Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025 BEFORE 14 October 2025.

Please write to not only your local MP but also the Opposition Leader Mark Speakman and Premier Chris Minns.

The housing crisis is now being used as blatant propaganda to legitimise sweeping changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act (1979). The changes will shift the focus from protecting community and environmental well being to promoting development and productivity. It will remove remove safeguards for threatened species, ecological communities, heritage and the public interest.

NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman has now declared he supports Labor’s new planning laws that allow developers to get what they want – demolish and rebuild Sydney without controls to protect the environment and heritage.

The new law will even make it unlawful to consider environmental harm.

Members of FOKE attended a developers’ forum recently where they witnessed Mark Speakman proudly saying he was now a “Yimby” and fully behind Labor in their agenda to support developers at whatever cost.

Already Ku-ring-gai’s planning has been undermined by the NSW Govenrment’s pop up State Significant Developments (SSDs). Ku-ring-gai Council’s planning controls have been undermined by the NSW Government’s Housing Development Authority (HDA) that overrides its powers and local democracy. Now they want to completely deregulate the planning system in favour of developers.

It is urgent you write to before 14 October 2025:

Read Environmental Defenders Office Briefing Note HERE

250926-EDO-Briefing-note-NSW-Environmental-Planning-and-Assessment-Amendment-Planning-System-Reforms-Bill-2025Download

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SSD at 25-27 Rosedale Rd and 1 & 1a Edward Street, Gordon

Gordon residents now must be prepared to put in a submission for a State Significant Development (SSD) for the proposal for a Residential Development with infill affordable housing – 25-27 Rosedale Road and 1 and 1A Edward Street, Gordon.

The SSD proposal is for a:

  • Two x 8-9 storey apartment buildings with infill affordable housing
  • 136 apartments including 23 affordable
  • basement car park

See more information at NSW Planning portal HERE



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FOKE Submission – 16-20 Midde Harbour Street, Lindfield

FOKE opposed the State Significant Development at 16-20 Middle Harbour Road Lindfield (SSD83431958) because: 
  • Is not compatible with the desired future character of Lindfield.


  • Fails to comply with KLEP 2015, KDCP, SEPP (Housing) 2021 and ADG standards.


  • Overshadows and overwhelms neighbourhood properties and dominates heritage listed properties.


  • Has inadequate setbacks, building separation and visual privacy.Impacts on the development potential of adjoining sites.


  • Impacts on waterflows and flooding across numerous sites.


  • Has inadequate solar access to dwellings and inequitable solar access to affordable housing.


  • Has inadequate deep soil zones for planting canopy trees. 


The State Significant Development Application proposals at 16-20 Middle Harbour Road are not compliant in height, setbacks and should be rejected as it will have a negative and detrimental impact on local heritage, environment, traffic, urban design, neighbourhood character, visual amenity, liveability, tree canopy, open space, infrastructure, and community benefit. As such the SSD proposal should be rejected


FOKE Submission 16-20 Middle Harbour SSDDownload



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Vale Jane Goodall 1934-2025

“In terms of the environment and social justice, this generation is different. They hear about the climate crisis and increasingly about the social crisis. Young people are better equipped than we were to understand and deal with the problems we have created,” says Jane Goodall.

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NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman acclaims himself as “unashamedly YIMBY”

Following the NSW Liberal Party’s 2023 election loss, Opposition Leader Mark Speakman has announced he is repositioning the party as “unashamedly YIMBY” (Yes In My Backyard) as his reason for addressing NSW’s housing crisis.

In a speech to the Housing Now conference, a pro-housing alliance, Speakman emphasised the urgent need for more housing to prevent younger generations from being locked out of homeownership.

Speakman highlighted the party’s soul-searching post-election, noting its lack of appeal to voters under 35, who favor Labor and the Greens. He believes an aggressive pro-housing stance, inspired by Canadian conservatives, can reverse this trend. On immigration, a key driver of housing demand, he suggested recalibrating its composition to avoid undermining construction by limiting skilled tradies.

He criticised the NSW government for abandoning new Metro station plans, promising a Liberal Metro policy before the next election.

Speakman, in general, supported the government’s planning reforms and the Woollahra station redevelopment, though he doubted the projected 10,000-home uplift.

He also urged waiving certain housing taxes during the National Housing Accord period and prioritizing greenfield developments, as the state is set to miss its housing targets.

Read full article HERE



Mark Speakman says . .
  • He is “Unashamedly YIMBY”
  • He believes the reforms will be “overwhelmingly good for neighbourhood homes”
  • He supports “more infill housing and more greenfield development”
  • He supports “ densification round rails stations”
  • He believes that NSW “is not fulfilling the housing need fast enough”
  • He is wanting to be “constructive in opposition”
  • He “broadly supports majority of the proposals”
  • The Libs are working with Labor “ in bipartisan round table discussions”
  • He believes NSW is “desperate for planning reforms”
  • He will be “taking the reforms he supports to the party room”
  • He wants the Libs  “to at least support the vast package of reforms”
  • He supports the introduction of a “Development authority”
  • He is “disappointed in the number of housing approvals in NSW”
  • He said that “infill and greenfield development is not feasible due to taxes and charges”
  • He said he was” supportive of the Rosehill development and that they (Libs) would be looking at Rosehill”
  • He believed “there is great opportunity to develop Long Bay Jail”
  • He is “supportive of the proposed development of the Woollahra rail station and the addition of 10,000 dwellings”
  • He said “we wants to be constructive and reforms on all fronts to make housing more affordable”
  • HE said the Libs “are coming 3rd behind Labor and Greens and the way to reverse that is to be pro-housing”
  • He wants to see a “One Stop Shop to streamline development”
  • He wants to see “ Greater density round major hubs”
  • He is happy for “deferring developer contribution payments until occupancy stage”
  • He wants “to see reduced land tax for rent to build developments”
  • He Is not seeing “ enough planning round schools and hospitals”
  • He wants “to see Stamp Duty reform”
  • He wants to see a “downsize contribution for 3 bedrooms or more”
  • He said the Libs “will build more METROS”
  • He wants the Libs “to be a party of HOPE and reward aspiration – particularly the younger generation as a positivity of force””



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Pitfalls of Developer Options

Lucy Macken’s Sydney Morning Herald article (7.10.25) describes the pitfalls of developers options

Jennifer Maxwell and ten neighbors in Castle Hill, Sydney, agreed in 2015 to sell their homes as a mega-lot to a developer for $42.25 million, lured by offers significantly above market value due to rezoning and a new metro station.



The deal promised Maxwell $3.43 million to fund her retirement. However, a decade later, only three owners have been paid, leaving Maxwell and seven others in limbo as the developer, Castle 7 Pty Ltd, struggles with planning approvals and funding.



The trust went into liquidation in 2025 with $5 million in debts, halting penalty interest payments.



The article highlights the risks of such deals amid Sydney’s housing reforms, which have spurred mega-lot sales in suburbs like Mosman and Rose Bay.



However, increased site supply has reduced values, and delayed settlements—sometimes years long—can erode the deal’s worth. In Castle Hill, the median house price nearly doubled since 2015, while apartment prices grew only 17%, diminishing the project’s viability.



The syndicate’s unity fractured when some settled early at discounts, and the developer sold the option to another investor.



Despite new settlement offers at reduced prices, Maxwell, now caring for her ailing husband, insists on the original amount.



The article warns homeowners to be cautious of developer promises, especially when zoning and approvals are uncertain, citing a nearby controversial development and the financial collapse of another developer as cautionary examples.


Read SMH article HERE

Why Option Contracts are Detrimental for Homeowners
  • Low-Cost Land Control: Developers can secure parcels of land at a low cost, gaining the exclusive right to purchase at a minimal price sometime in the future.
  • Non-Binding for Developers: These contracts are not binding on the developers, allowing them flexibility without immediate commitment.
  • Binding for Homeowners: Conversely, these contracts are binding on homeowners, limiting their options.
  • Fixed Purchase Price: The purchase price is locked in at the time of the contract, ignoring potential increases in market value.
  • Loss of Control: Homeowners lose control over the timing of their property’s demolition.

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