• • NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully announces the implementation of the new Transport Oriented Development State Environmental Planning Policy SEPP that includes Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon (14 December 2023).
  • ABC Radio National, 11 December 2023   Heritage or homes: which is more important? with guest Dr Elizabeth Farrelly, architecture critic and author of Killing Sydney: the fight for a city’s soul HERE

• Ku-ring-gai Council commences a community survey on the NSW Government’s new housing policies (16 January 2024).
• FOKE meets with David Marshall, Ku-ring-gai Council General Manager and Andrew Watson, Director of Planning & Environment (25 January 2024).
• Ku-ring-gai Council establishes an online survey for residents to have their say to help form the Council’s submission to the State Government on the Transport Oriented Development Programme, which was due by 31 January 2024.
• FOKE meets with Matt Cross MP over NSW Government’s Housing SEPPs (25 January 2024).
• FOKE endorses Ku-ring-gai Council’s Extraordinary meeting condemnation of the NSW Government’s irresponsible approach to planning for the future of the built and natural environment of NSW (29 January 2024).
• FOKE produces the poster/flyer:
  homes, value, heritage, trees, wildlife.  NSW state government says none of the above are important.  So, just get over it as they:
  • Force up to seven storeys high
  • Jam in tiny lots of just 450sqm
  • Ignore heritage controls
  • Bulldoze environmental controls, slash trees, lose wildlife
  • Give developers free rein
  (31 January 2024).
  
• Ku-ring-gai Council community information session on the TOD at Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers (31 January 2024).
• FOKE holds information stall outside Council Chambers in Council carpark preceding Council information forum (31 January 2024). 
• FOKE prepares flyers and posters to alert residents to the potential loss of home, heritage trees and wildlife urging residents to send submissions to the NSW Government by the submissions deadline on 23 February 2024.  FOKE members and supporters letterdrops flyers to 17,500 letterboxes.

• FOKE meets with Paul Fletcher MP for Bradfield to discuss Federal Government’s Housing Policy is driving NSW Housing Policy (1 February 2024).
• Ku-ring-gai Council receives Independent Assessment into the potential ecological impacts associated with the NSW Government Planning reform: the TOD SEPP and the Low-Mid rise Housing Policy (v1.0) from Land Eco Consulting (6 February 2024).
• FOKE attends Sarah Winn (Chair, EnergyZE North Shore Inc) community meeting on proposed housing reforms at Gordon Library Meeting 2 (7 February 2024, 6-8pm).
• Ku-ring-gai Council receives Independent Heritage Advice on the proposed changes to NSW Planning System and the implications for Ku-ring-gai’s heritage by Lisa Trueman Heritage Advisor (8 February 2024).
• FOKE meets with Matt Cross MP for Davidson (9 February 2024).
• FOKE publishes its FOKE Talk Newsletter (February 2024).
• Councillors Martin Smith and Kim Wheatley call an Extraordinary Meeting of Council followed by a Mayoral Minute that explain the Council’s position on the NSW Government’s housing reforms, a resolution moved and carried unanimously by the councillors and which resolves that Ku-ring-gai Council:
  A. Condemns the State Government for its irresponsible approach to planning for the future of the built and natural environment in NSW.
  B. Rejects the proposed changes to planning controls and demands that they be withdrawn with genuine consultation to be undertaken with councils and their communities, as intended by the National Housing Accord 2022.
  C. Explore all options to oppose the changes and stop them being implemented.
  D. Lodge applications under the GIPA act to obtain the NSW Government analysis of the proposed planning controls and other information relating to the possible impact on Ku-ring-gai.
  E. Continue to actively inform the community, and request NSROC [The Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils] and Local Government NSW to lobby against the proposed changes to planning controls.
  F. Write to the Mayors of all Sydney metropolitan councils seeking for these councils to fight back and demand that the proposed changes to planning controls be withdrawn.
  G. Arrange for banners in key locations to alert residents to the proposed changes.
  H. Continue to actively campaign against the proposed changes, collaborating with the community, councils and other stakeholders.
  I. Authorise the General Manager to take all action necessary to implement this resolution and otherwise progress the interests of Council consistent with this resolution (5 February 2024).

• Shadow attorney-general Alister Henskens SC MP used parliamentary privilege to accuse an unnamed bureaucrat of corrupt conduct based on information from a whistleblower. It is alleged that a senior NSW planning official used secret information to buy a property within a proposed higher-density development zone in Gordon.  He referrs the allegations to ICAC (8 February 2024).

• Ku-ring-gai Council receives 5,307 resident survey responses that is the largest opt in survey in the past 10 years in Ku-ring-gai (16 February 2024).
• Ku-ring-gai Council submission on Transport Oriented Development (20 February 2024).
• FOKE submits its Low to Mid-Rise Housing SEPP Submission to NSW Planning (22 February 2024).
• FOKE produces the poster/flyer:

  Minns’ wrecking ball is coming to you

  Statewide Changes to Housing Controls. The Minns Government is threatening every suburb across Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Lower Hunter, Greater Newcastle and Illawarra-Shoalhaven

  RALLY: SAVE YOUR SUBURB, Tuesday 12 March 2024 1pm, Sydney Domain

  • No place is safe
  • demolition of heritage
  • demolition of affordable homes
  • dividing communities between those who want money, feel compromised with high rise next to them and those who want to fight it.
  • Promoting he rally in the Domain in March 2024 (26 February 2024).
• Upper House Inquiry established to inquire into and report on the Development of the Transport Oriented Development Program (23 February 2024).
• Paul Fletcher MP for Bradfield makes Constituency Statement Speech for the Bradfield on Urban Planning on planning changes affecting Ku-ring-gai (28 February 2024).

• NSW Planning Minister Scully and department officials confirm at NSW Budget Estimates Hearing that they received approximately 8,000 written responses to the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy with 67% critical, 10%, neutral and 23% in favour of (March 2024).
• FOKE writes to NSW Premier Chris Minns asking him question about financing the TOD and Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy (3 March 2024).
• FOKE works with Save Greater Sydney Coalition (SGSC) to hold the rally – Save Greater Sydney Coalition’s (SGSC) Stop Minns Wrecking Ball Rally (12 March 2024).
  
  
• FOKE submits submission to the Upper House Parliamentary Inquiry into the development of the Transport Oriented Development (27 March 2024).
• ABC News ‘NSW government’s rezoning plans spark concerns overdevelopment could ruin heritage’, 10 December 2023 Watch on Youtube HERE  or on Facebook HERE
  The NSW government’s rezoning plans were intended to increase housing density in some of Sydney’s oldest suburbs. The plans included rezoning land near train stations to allow for higher housing density. However, some communities and councils were concerned that the plans would lead to overdevelopment and damage the heritage of their neighborhoods.

• FOKE meets with Matt Cross MP for Davidson (11 April 2024).
• FOKE farewells Don Brew, a passionate advocate for Ku-ring-gai’s heritage and environment (13 April 2024).  
• FOKE submits its opposition to the reclassification of Secret Park, Pymble from Community to Operational Land (14 April 2024).
• FOKE makes a submission on the Draft Guidelines for Synthetic Turf in Public Spaces to the NSW Government (15 April 2024).
• Ku-ring-gai Council publishes an open letter in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Sunday Telegraph alerting NSW residents about the NSW Government’s lack of commitment in providing infrastructure to support expected growth, and pointed out that millions of dollars in housing contributions would go to the Government from residents, without it committing to or providing new schools, roads, and sports fields for local communities (27-28 April 2024).
• NSW Government gazettes ‘State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing)
  Amendment (Transport Oriented Development) 2024’ under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (29 April 2024).

• Ku-ring-gai Council unanimously votes to take legal action against the NSW Government’s Transport Orientated Development (TOD) State Environment Planning Policy at an Extraordinary Meeting (8 May 2024).
• Ku-ring-gai Council resolved to commence studies around the four Transport Oriented Development precincts of Gordon, Killara, Lindfield, and Roseville. Council’s aim was to explore better resident outcomes than what was expected to be implemented under the TOD SEPP at the Extraordinary Meeting of Council.
  Mayoral Minute from Council’s Extraordinary Meeting of Council of 8 May 2024.
  A.      That Council supports more housing but denounces the lack of planning and one-size-fits-all policies of the State Government.
   For the Resolution: The Mayor, Councillor Ngai, Councillors Lennon, Smith, A. Taylor, G. Taylor, Ward and Wheatley
  Against the Resolution: Councillor Spencer
  CARRIED
  B.     That Council commence proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court concerning the Transport Oriented Development Amendment to the Housing SEPP, to seek declarations as to invalidity and orders restraining any associated breach of law, including the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
   CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  C.   That Council commences studies around the four Transport Oriented Development precincts of Gordon, Killara, Lindfield and Roseville to explore better resident outcomes than what is currently in place (as of 13 May 2024). The studies, scenario analysis and community engagement should be presented before councillors within nine months for a decision. Such scenarios may include:
  i)   Base Case
  – Identification of new infrastructure and amenities to support the state-imposed TOD precincts in their current form.
  ii)  Minor Amendment Case
  – In addition to the Base Case, it will selectively spare key Heritage Conservation Areas as well as improve urban canopy outcomes by shifting dwellings towards key sites in the town centre.
  iii) More Extensive Case
  – In addition to the Base Case, a more ambitious effort to save multiple Heritage Conservation Areas as well as improve urban canopy outcomes by shifting dwellings towards non-heritage areas in the town centre.
  iv) As well as any other scenarios that Council staff choose to identify. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Council also requested the studies, scenario analysis and community engagement be presented before councillors within nine months for a decision (8 May 2024).
• FOKE presents evidence to the Upper House Inquiry into the Planning System and the impacts of climate change on communities and the environment (10 May 2024). Video of FOKE’s evidence can be found on the NSW Parliament’s YouTube channel.​
• Ku-ring-gai Council submits its Summons (Case Number 2024/00173748) and commences legal action against the TOD at the Land & Environment Court 10 May 2024).
• FOKE farewells Jennifer Harvey, an outstandingly meticulous and professional Ku-ring-gai historian who researched Ku-ring-gai’s outstanding 20th Century built heritage that lay the foundation for many of Ku-ring-gai’s Heritage Conservation Areas (11 May 2024).
• Ku-ring-gai Council vs NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces lodged with the NSW Land & Environment Court (10 May 2024). 
• NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) SEPP comes into effect (13 May 2024).
• FOKE holds the talk “GeoRegion = GeoWonder” by Dr Peter Mitchell OAM to celebrate the 2024 Australian Heritage Festival event (18 May 2024).
• FOKE presents evidence to the Upper House to the Transport Oriented Development Inquiry (20 May 2024). 
• FOKE AGM where FOKE President Kathy Cowley presents President’s Report (22 May 2024).
• Video of FOKE’s evidence can be found on the NSW Parliament’s You Tube channel.
• FOKE Committee Members attend Ku-ring-gai Council talk “Ku-ring-gai’s Valued Architectural Heritage” by Dr Zeny Edwards OAM (29 May 2024).
• FOKE receives a $1000 Bendigo Bank staff community grant on at the Warrawee Bowling Club (31 May 2024).

• Scott Farlow MLC & Shadow Minister for Planning loses private member’s bill to disallow the TOD SEPP (5 June 2024).
• FOKE holds a guided walking tour of Sheldon Forest led by Dr John Martyn to celebrate the Australian Heritage Festival 2024 event (8 June 2024).
• FOKE holds a guided walking tour of Bicentennial Park, West Pymble, led by Dr John Martyn to celebrate the Australian Heritage Festival 2024 event (8 June 2024).
• FOKE writes submission opposing issuing a lease for three groups of cabins in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area (24 June 2024).
• FOKE writes to Sue Higginson MLC, Chair Portfolio 7 Committee requesting that the evidence of Dr Peter Tulip be noted as misleading and intentionally discredits FOKE as a community organisaiton (24 June 2024).
• FOKE meets with Matt Cross MP for Davidson (14 June 2024).

• FOKE publishes its FOKE Talk Newsletter (July 2024).

• FOKE holds stall at Gordon Markets (14 July 2024).

• FOKE receives $3,600 Ku-ring-gai Environmental Levy Grant for Ku-ring-gai GeoRegion: Establish sign at Bicentennial Park about geological history (16 July 2024).
• FOKE attends documentary ‘The Koala” at Roseville Cinema (17 July 2024).
• FOKE holds information stalls at the Ku-ring-gai Council community forums for the Low and Mid-rise SEPP at Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers, Turramurra Masonic Hall, St Ives Anglican Church & St Albans Church Lindfield.
• FOKE meets with Scott Farlow MLC, Shadow Minister for Planning with representatives from the Save Greater Sydney Coaltion (22 July 2024).
• FOKE provides supplementary evidence to the Transport Oriented Development Inquiry on the SimTable Bushfire video affecting Roseville (23 July 2024). Watch the Ku-ring-gai Council SimTable of Roseville Bushfire HERE
• Council resolves to seek an interim heritage order (IHO) for heritage conservation areas in the TOD precincts.

• FOKE holds a guided walking tour of Long Reef Walk with Dr Peter Mitchell OAM to celebrate the Australian Heritage Festival 2024 (4 August 2024).
• Alister Henskens SC MP for Wahroonga hosts for FOKE event at the NSW Parliament Theatrette
• FOKE works with Save Greater Sydney Coalition (SGSC) to hold the forum ‘Getting Housing Right: Why it Matters?’at the NSW Parliament Theatrette with guest speakers Dr Elizabeth Farrelly, Sharon Veale, Michael Pascoe, Saul Deane, Dr Peter Sheridan AM, and The Hon. Scott Farlow (7 August 2024).
• FOKE holds an information stall at Gordon Markets (11 August 2024).
• For the first time FOKE joins other community groups and sends a set of questions to all candidates standing in the local government election with deadline (23 August 2024).
• Peter Achterstraat, NSW Productivity & Equality Commissioner makes 32 recommendations to boost more housing in NSW as outlined in the Review of housing supply challenges & policy options for NSW Final Report. He recommends: • Clearing barriers to more density; in the northern suburbs; • legislating to clear development bottlenecks; • fast-tracking extra floors on already-approved apartment projects; • Implementing pro-housing regulations; • Extending the TODs.
• FOKE produces the poster/flyer:
  

  ONE SIZE FAILS ALL

  • Poor planning
  • Increased traffic
  • Lack of consultation
  • Destruction of heritage
  • Destroy trees + wildlife habitats
  • And does nothing for affordability

  The Minns’ wrecking ball is ill-thought and threatens everything that makes local character unique and essential to Sydney.
  

• At the Ordinary Meeting of Council under item C1 (decision #178) council resolved:
   (Moved: Councillors Ngai/Wheatley)  That in relation to the matters in this report, Council endorses the content of the Mayor’s late confidential memo dated 13 August 2024, a copy of which is initialed at the Meeting by the Mayor.
   For the Resolution:  The Mayor, Councillor Ngai, Councillors Kay, Lennon, Smith, A. Taylor, G. Taylor, Ward and Wheatley
   Against the Resolution:  Councillors Pettett and Spencer
   CARRIED 
   The Mayor’s late confidential memo provided guidance for the mediation which was to take place in late September 2024. However, this mediation was delayed by the State Government and rescheduled for November 2024 (13 August 2024).
• FOKE takes Dr Elizabeth Farrelly on a guided tour of the Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon TOD and Low to Mid Rise SEPP and their impacts on Heritage Conservation Areas and on heritage items (26 August 2024).
• NSW Government advised Ku-ring-gai Council that it was not intending to support the IHO (29 August 2024)

• FOKE holds an information stall at Gordon Markets (8 September 2024).
• Ku-ring-gai Council local government election with new incumbents Councillors Indu Balachandran (Gordon Ward) and Matt Devlin (Comennara Ward)  joining Council along with the re-elected Councillors Christine Kay (St Ives Ward & elected as Mayor), Martin Smith (St Ives Ward), Kim Wheately (Wahroonga Ward, elected as Deputy Mayor), Cedric Spencer (Wahroonga Ward), Jeff Pettet (Comenarra Ward), Sam Ngai (Roseville Ward) and Alec Taylor (Roseville Ward). Simon Lennor (Gordon Ward) & Greg Taylor (Comennara Ward) were not re-elected (14 September 2024).
• At least 34 Expressions of Interest on the market, involving over 100 individual properties, with potential for up to 3,300 new apartments (late September 2024).

• Oath/ Affirmation of Office by Ku-ring-gai Councillors & election of Mayor Christine Kay and Deputy Mayor Kim Wheatley (8 October 2024).
• Councillor briefing on scenarios (9 October 2024).
• FOKE holds an information stall at Gordon Markets (13 October 2024).
• Council has received ·    one DA and 2 pre-DAs with potential for about 150 new dwellings; ·    three Planning Proposals with potential for about 1,200 dwellings (two predating the TOD SEPP; and ·    some twenty-four (24) enquiries and/or requests for de-listing of Heritage items for which no specialist heritage advice has been provided in support (October 2024).
• Upper House Inquiry Report into the Development of the Transport Oriented Development Program (15 October 2024).
• Confidential item re Land & Environment Court of NSW – TOD SEPP where community was told to leave the Council building and were not invited back to receive outcome of confidential meeting (30 October 2024). 
• The 8 May 2024 resolution requires both community engagement and the scenarios to be presented to Councillors for a decision within 9 months, being February 2025.  This means consultation needs to be undertaken prior to Christmas to meet the timeline. The Extraordinary Meeting will provide Council with the opportunity to consider the scenarios and timeline and decide whether to proceed to consultation. Extraordinary meeting to receive Officers’ Report on whether to adopt exhibiting housing scenarios to explore better resident outcomes for the four Transport Oriented Development precincts of Gordon, Killara, Lindfield and Roseville.  Primary objectives for the study are: 
  a)   to retain and protect Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs);
  b)   to improve urban canopy outcomes; and
  c)   to meet the dwelling targets stipulated by the State Government for the TOD program (30 October 2024)

• FOKE holds an information stall at Gordon Markets (10 November 2024).
• FOKE meets with Matt Cross MP for Davidson (11 November 2024).
• FOKE meets with Mayor of Ku-ring-gai, Mayor Cr Christine Kay (11 November 2024).
• NSW Premier Chris Minns announces the establishment of a new Housing Delivery Authority (HAD) to bypass councils and make it easier for developers to build major residential housing projects (15 November 2024).
• Non-statutory public exhibition to commence on Council’s draft land use options Nov-Dec 2024.
• Upper House Inquiry Report into Planning system and the impacts of climate change on the environment and communities (19 November 2024).
• Land & Environment Court directed Mediation with NSW Government (21 November 2024).
• Ku-ring-gai Council Vs NSW Government TOD be listed for further directions (22 November 2024).
• Ku-ring-gai Council accept a mediation agreement with NSW Department of Planning but still continues with the legal action (26 November 2024). 
• FOKE submission to NSW Office of Local Government regarding Councillor conduct and meeting practice review (28 November 2024).

• FOKE publishes its FOKE Talk Newsletter (December 2024).
• NSW Premier Chris Minns referred to Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) over his relationship with one of the key figures behind the redevelopment of the Rosehill Racecourse (5 December 2024).
• FOKE holds an information stall at Gordon Markets (8 December 2024).
• FOKE presents Jan Posen Environment Award for Lindfield Public School student.
• FOKE presents Jan Langley Sustainability Award for Lindfield East Public School student.
• FOKE presents evidence to the North Sydney Planning Panel opposing the rezoning of Lizard Rock (9 December 2024). 
• FOKE submits its Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Alternate Housing Scenarios submission to Ku-ring-gai Council (10 December 2024).
• Non-statutory public exhibition on alternative scenarios to the TOD SEPP closes. 
• Mayor announces that Council has reached an agreement with the NSW Government in relation to planning in the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) precincts at Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon. Under the agreement, the government is supporting Council to develop locally responsive planning controls to deliver the target of 23,200 new homes in Ku-ring-gai by 2031. Mayor encourages Ku-ring-gai residents to have their say on our alternative housing scenarios before submissions close on Tuesday 17 December (13 December 2024).
• Submissions to alternative housing scenarios close (17 December 2024).
• Council has discussions with the NSW Government on Council’s approach (if Council adopts scenarios for exhibition).  The Primary objectives for the study are: 
  a)   to retain and protect Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs)
  b)   to improve urban canopy outcomes, and
  c)   to meet the dwelling targets stipulated by the State Government for the TOD program (28 December 2024).

Community engagement reported to Council outlining the outcomes of community engagement in relation to alternative scenarios to the TOD SEPP amendments for Roseville and Gordon Ward in light of the primary objectives: 
a)   to retain and protect Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs);
b)   to improve urban canopy outcomes; and
c)   to meet the dwelling targets stipulated by the State Government for the TOD program.

Council will commence work post-February 2025 if it adopts a preferred non-statutory scenario for further development into a planning proposal.

Formal consultation begins if Council resolves to progress a particular scenario as a planning proposal