Recently there has been misinformation disseminated to the community about the debate at the last Council meeting on 22 September around the Draft Housing Strategy. You deserve to have the facts. We have previously sent you the information below but wish to reassure you of what really happened. We also have been busy preparing a suggested resolution for the Council meeting next Tuesday 20 October which we forwarded to all Councillors for their consideration.

The Facts - an except from our previous communication

At the Council meeting on 22 September, Mayor Jennifer Anderson (Roseville Ward) proposed a resolution that would authorise Council staff, without any involvement or oversight from Councillors or the community, to amend the draft Housing Strategy “to reflect provision of new dwellings to 2036 from capacity within current planning instruments”, make other consequential amendments and lodge the Housing Strategy with the State Government. This was based on new dwelling numbers being substantially reduced, thereby negating the need for building heights above what is currently permitted. It would effectively result in there being no real strategy for future housing in Ku-ring-gai. We understand some Councillors did not receive the 4½ page Mayoral Minute containing the resolution until about an hour before the meeting.

Deputy Mayor Spencer (Wahroonga Ward) and Crs Ngai (Roseville Ward), Kelly (Gordon Ward), Kay (St.Ives Ward), Pettett (Comenarra Ward) jointly prepared an amendment to the Mayor’s proposed resolution which was moved by Cr Ngai. They said good governance required that Councillors see the revised Housing Strategy before adopting it, given the extent of amendments that would be required to the lengthy document (150 pages plus about 450 pages of annexures). They also said that the community should have an opportunity to provide feedback on the revised Housing Strategy.

Councillors Szatow (Gordon Ward), Smith (St Ives Ward), Greenfield (Wahroonga Ward) and Clarke (Comenarra Ward) voted with the Mayor in rejecting the other five Councillors’ amendment and supporting the Mayor’s proposed resolution to adopt the Housing Strategy before it has even been prepared. The Mayor used her casting vote to pass the resolution.

Support Lindfield President, Linda McDonald said “This demonstrates a complete failure of due process and proper governance and has effectively sought to close the door on public scrutiny. While the community will no doubt welcome the proposal to reduce dwelling numbers and abandon heights above existing limits, in the absence of transparency around the changes, there is no guarantee the new Housing Strategy will accord with community expectations.”

Later in the meeting, Deputy Mayor Spencer and Crs Ngai, Kelly, Kay and Pettett lodged a motion to rescind (overturn) the Mayor’s resolution. The effect of this is to put a hold on the implementation of the Mayor’s resolution until Council decides the rescission motion (at the 20 October Council meeting). According to a statement made by Cr Ngai after the meeting, the Councillors lodged the rescission motion because the Mayor’s resolution was “not in line with…good governance and informed decision making…”.

In a press release issued after the Council meeting, Council provided an incomplete account of what transpired at the meeting, quoting the Mayor as saying she was “at a loss to understand” why the Councillors who lodged the rescission motion are “intent on denying residents unequivocal rejection of the Greater Sydney Commission housing targets…”. This misrepresented the position taken by those Councillors, whose objection to the Mayor’s resolution did not relate to the proposed reduction in dwelling numbers. The press release and a subsequent FOKE flyer, which have been widely circulated, have resulted in considerable confusion in the community. 

Support Lindfield has prepared a suggested resolution and forwarded it to all Councillors for their consideration at the Council meeting this Tuesday evening 20 October. You will find the resolution at this link.

We appreciate that this is a large and complex topic and there is considerable confusion about it, however it is also important since it the future environment of Ku-ring-gai is at stake. It therefore is important that all residents are made aware of the activity that surrounds the topic. We will update you next week after the Council with the outcome. Your feedback and comments are welcome at info@supportlindfield.net.