After fighting new housing, this Sydney council just voted for more

Skyscrapers that rise as high as 28 storeys could soon mark the skyline of Sydney’s north shore after a council supported a contentious rezoning plan that it says will save the majority of the region from “over-development”.

After spending more than a year battling a NSW government drive for increased housing density, Ku-ring-gai councillors have unanimously voted to support a counter housing strategy that paves the way for up to 24,500 new homes to be built around Lindfield, Gordon, Killara and Roseville railway stations.

Ku-ring-gai Council has voted on its preferred planning controls that will affect development around Roseville station.Credit: Steven Siewert

The strategy puts forward an alternative to the NSW government’s transport-oriented development (TOD) planning scheme, which came into effect in May last year and has already earmarked 25 large, state-significant development proposals within the region’s tree-lined streets.

But the release of the council’s own strategy has triggered fierce resistance from some residents and community groups due to the scale of density it proposes and concerns that town centres, including Lindfield, are being “sacrificed” to meet housing targets.

Despite the opposition, Ku-ring-gai Mayor Christine Kay said the council’s alternative scheme would “protect the area’s heritage and environment” by focusing density near existing town centres.

Under the alternative strategy – supported by councillors at a meeting on Thursday night – buildings as tall as 28 storeys would be permitted around Gordon station; 18 storeys would be supported around Lindfield station; and buildings up to eight storeys could get the green light around Roseville and Killara stations.

Roseville, Gordon, Killara and Lindfield have all been rezoned as part of the NSW government’s TOD program.Credit: Nick Moir

Modelling by the council predicts its plans would create about 1569 more homes than the TOD scheme, which sets a blanket planning rule of six-storey buildings within a 400-metre radius of railway stations.

Councillor Indu Balachandran – speaking at Thursday’s meeting – said the counter-proposal would help preserve Ku-ring-gai’s existing character and heritage, and that the government’s strategy had “failed to cut the mustard”.

There was similar sentiment from Councillor Sam Ngai, who also used the meeting to hit back at unnamed vocal residents opposed to the council plan.

“Our council and council staff have been attacked for this proposal, and I see this as poor form akin to attacks of emergency services who protected homes during bushfires,” Ngai said.

Roseville, one stop north of Chatswood, has been earmarked for more development.Credit: Steven Siewert

“The behaviour I’ve seen in recent weeks is inappropriate and must stop.”

Thursday’s vote comes after the council received more than 600 emails from residents during consultation on its alternative scheme.

A three-hour community public forum convened ahead of Thursday’s meeting also heard from more than 70 residents who gave impassioned speeches both in favour and opposing the plans.

The alternative plan for housing development that Ku-ring-gai Council will take to the Minns state government.Credit:

NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully confirmed that the Planning Department will now consider the council’s alternative planning controls, but a timeframe for a final decision has not been confirmed.

All planning applications lodged under the TOD scheme within the Ku-ring-gai Council area to date would also be “grandfathered” – meaning they will be assessed under the TOD controls regardless of whether the council’s alternative scheme is supported by the department.

Several other Sydney councils have proposed alternative planning schemes to the TOD controls, including Canterbury-Bankstown Council and the Inner West Council. Inner West is now seeking public feedback on a plan that would support higher density in parts of the local government area, including along Parramatta Road and in The Bays Precinct.

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