Halfway through a council meeting on the night of March 25, it became clear Ku-ring-gai’s elected representatives were not against Premier Chris Minns’ housing reforms purely to guard their own wicket. They were on a mission from God.
The council has very publicly positioned itself as the bulwark against Minns’ housing agenda. Its main target is the transport-oriented development program, which amends planning rules within 400 metres of certain train stations to allow apartment buildings up to six storeys. Of the scheme’s 37 stations, Ku-ring-gai has four: Roseville, Lindfield, Killara and Gordon.
“I’m actually of the view that we can support a lot more housing in Ku-ring-gai,” says Ku-ring-gai Mayor Sam Ngai.The local government area of Ku-ring-gai is the heart of Sydney’s proverbially leafy north shore. It takes in some of the city’s wealthiest suburbs, from Roseville in the south to Turramurra and St Ives further north. It is home to schools such as Pymble Ladies College, Knox Grammar and Ravenswood School for Girls. In Killara, the median house price has topped $3.5 million.
Ngai, who was 40 when he was elected last year, making him the youngest ever Ku-ring-gai mayor, says he’s not against that target. “I’m actually of the view that we can support a lot more housing in Ku-ring-gai,” he told a recent council meeting. “I’ve got three children and one day I hope that they can live close by. I need someone to look after me when I get old.”his council is planning alternative scenarios to match or exceed the state government’s housing targets.
But Tulip, who is an ALP member and involved in housing advocacy group Sydney YIMBY, also recognises the political opportunism at play on both sides.Credit:“ want to be seen as fighting for their community and taking the strongest stance against the proposals as they can,” Tulip says. When Coles put forward a redevelopment proposal in 2013, the council saw a threat to its vision, and commenced its own master plan, which it finalised in 2016. But it didn’t have $120 million to make it a reality.
Across the road, another ageing shopping complex features an IGA, more stores and a parking lot. That site was the subject of a planning proposal by Turra Developments Pty Ltd in April 2022 that included redeveloping the commercial centre, paving a new road, creating a new public park and building 248 apartments in towers of 15 storeys.
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