Lindfield Village Green Progress Shots

Now that the Lindfield Village Green is complete, we would like to share some progress shots from along the way!

BEFORE: April 2020, the carpark before the Lindfield Village Green construction begins

September 2020, the foundations are being dug out and piers sunk. Poor Runaway Spoon!

October 2021, carpark construction almost complete. Starting on the earthworks and landscaping.

AFTER: February 2022, the park is completed and opened to the public. Water fountains are running, but the Olea cafe fitout continues.

Any News on the Lindfield Village Hub?

Unfortunately the answer is NO!

It has been some time since we’ve communicated with you and that’s because there hasn’t been much to say.

On 15 February Councillors had their first Council meeting since they elected the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and appointed Councillor representatives to various Committees. Some of our Committee members watched the proceedings via Live Stream. We were favourably impressed by the chairmanship of the new Mayor, Jeff Pettett, as he handled the large agenda very competently. All Councillors appeared to be heard and had ample time to ask questions and say what they wanted to. The behaviour of the Councillors was very businesslike and respectful. We are pleased to note that this behaviour is much more conducive to a cohesive and productive Council than some of the performances we witnessed in the previous term. We compliment all Councillors and hope that it continues.

While there were no agenda items directly related to the implementation of the Hub project at that meeting, there were some references to funding in documents related to agenda items. These are of note and interest to our community.

• GB5: “Council’s investment Portfolio performance for December 2021.” and Note at foot of this item ” *** During December 2021, Council received a $9.8M grant from Transport NSW for Lindfield Village Hub Car Park. As part of the Grant’s terms and conditions Council is required to keep the funds in an independent at call account for audit purposes.”

• GB19: “The Ku-ring-gai Long Term Financial Plan and the Delivery and Operational Program 2018-2021 and Operational Plan 2020-2021 identify projects which are to be funded from asset sales, including:
  major town centre projects such as Lindfield Village Hub and Turramurra Hub;”

We assume, but don’t know of course, whether the GB19 item means that they will now use some of the proceeds from the sale of the current library site to help fund the Hub project. Support Lindfield and the community at large have been lobbying for that to happen for years.

Unfortunately, we have no information about the status of the project or anything resembling a timeline. On 30 January we wrote to all Councillors with some suggestions for next steps. To date we have had no replies from any of the Councillors. None of the Councillors has reached out to us since the January Council meeting. So we are still in the dark.

As usual, we appreciate your comments and feedback. Please write to us at info@supportlindfield.net. When/if we get any information about the project we will, of course, pass it on to you.

Regards,

The Support Lindfield Team

Support Lindfield comments on the new Council and the Lindfield Village Hub

From The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Post

PRESIDENT of Support Lindfield, Linda McDonald, has congratulated the new and re-elected Councillors and is looking forward to working with them to bring the Lindfield Vil­lage Hub to fruition.

Support Lindfield is a community group with a database of 1800 sup­porters and a committee of 10 vol­unteers whose objective is to have a new heart for our village that services the residents of Lindfield, Killara and Roseville.

"Over $9m of ratepayer’s money has been spent on the Hub to date. Following many missteps and avoid­able delays over the past 9 years its now important for the Council to deliver for the residents. We’re opti­mistic the new Council will turn this situation around and promptly select a developer to undertake the project" stated Linda McDonald.

"The residents of Ku-ring-gai de­serve transparency and accountabili­ty for the expenditure and excessive timeline for this project. The actual design of the Hub should be put on display to allow public feedback and comments. It is unclear what the res­idents of Ku-ring-gai will getting. Unfortunately, the previous Council spent significant amounts of ratepay­er’s funds in the NSW Civil and Ad­ministrative Tribunal (NCAT) trying to keep information about the project from Support Lindfield and the rate­payers." added Linda McDonald.

The formal tender process started in December 2019 with a Request for Tender issued to five developers. By the closing date of 2 April 2020 only two tenders were received.

In December 2020 officers report­ed to Council that no financially vi­able tender had been received and the officers seemed to go back to the drawing board. This is now eight years into the project. The only pub­lic information made available during 2021 was that officers were “negoti­ating with developers”.

Support Lindfield wants the Hub to include a new library of the future, community centre, child care centre, open space and parkland, restau­rant and café precinct, supermarket and specialty retail, a range of high quality apartments, commuter and short stay parking. Also, a pedestrian bridge across Pacific Highway from the railway station is urgently needed for safety, access to the Hub from the station and Pacific Highway and to unite east and West Lindfield into one community.

President. Linda McDonald said, “If we get the Hub right it will deliv­er a place where all ages can gather to play, socialise, shop and enhance the joy of living in our beautiful sub­urbs.”

This is the largest project ever un­dertaken by Ku-ring-gai Council and Council’s future plans include a Tur­ramurra Hub and eventually a Gor­don Hub.

For more information info@sup­portlindfield.net or our website www. supportlindfield.net.

Kur-ring-gai Council Election Results

Yesterday the election results for all Ku-ring-gai Wards were finalised after the preferences were distributed. The results are as follows:

Roseville Ward

Sam Ngai - who won his seat in a landslide!
Alec Taylor - a newcomer who polled very well and knocked the former Mayor out of the race.

Gordon Ward

Barbara Ward
Simon Lennon
Both Barbara and Simon are new to Council.

Comenarra Ward

Jeff Pettett - seasoned Councillor
Greg Taylor - newcomer

St.Ives Ward

Christine Kay
Martin Smith
Both Christine and Martin are now into their 2nd term

Wahroonga Ward

Cedric Spencer - second term for Cedric
Kim Wheatley - newcomer

We are confident that this Council will be much more cohesive and community focussed than the previous term Council and will provide much needed leadership. We look forward to working with them more successfully and collaboratively and expect smooth sailing ahead for the Lindfield Village Hub.

Thank you to those of you who generously donated funds so we could mount an extensive and effective campaign. We raised over $9,000 and spent every $1 of it on the campaign. We believe it was well worth it. Thank you also to those of you who helped hand out flyers and/or did your own campaign around your neighbourhood to help our preferred candidates get elected. Or those who helped in any other way.

We will continue to work in your interests to get the Hub built as soon as possible and with everything the community has told us for years what they want.

Coles Lindfield development underway

“Building a better store starts here” banners up around Coles Lindfield

The Coles Lindfield development is now underway! As reported earlier, Coles Lindfield has had a 2 part DA approved for apartments and a greatly increased floorspace supermarket approved. They have now begun at least Stage 1A which represents the first half of the DA.

Stage 1A diagram as per DA0197/18

The primary purpose of Stage 1A is to create a new roadway into the site, to give access to the school and in future become the primary access to the upper carpark of the new development. Confusingly, this stage doesn’t actually connect that roadway to anything. Instead, Stage 1B is a very small stage to connect this new roadway to Balfour St and the former end of Balfour Lane. Stage 2 is then the actual supermarket redevelopment.

The compromise is that a number of parking spaces have now been lost from the site, which won’t be replaced until the entire development is completed. The asphalt has already been ripped up over the last few days. This is not ideal given the Village Green carpark is yet to be finished, but given lockdown the demand for commuter parking is certainly lower than normal and so shouldn’t be a problem.

It remains to be seen if Stage 2 of the development quickly follows Stage 1 or not. Here’s hoping it does and it’s all completed before the Village Hub starts - of course it will!

BIG THANKS!! Elections postponed to 4 December

Firstly, a BIG THANK YOU to members and supporters who donated to our election campaign kitty. You donated a total of $7,385 which is just fantastic! That will allow us to mount a very effective campaign to support candidates who demonstrate the ability to make much needed change in Ku-ring-gai Council.

Yesterday, Shelley Hancock, Minister for Local Government, announced that the Local Government elections will be postponed to 4 December to allow for a safer environment for the community as well as a fairer contest for candidates. We are delighted with this decision as likely Covid restrictions would result in restricting campaign activity by candidates and community groups like us, and create an unfair advantage for some candidates, particularly the new ones. We will continue the process we have started to identify new candidates who we will endorse, however at a more leisurely pace. We will also continue to agitate for progress on the Hub as there is no reason for Council staff to put down their pencils.

Our Support Lindfield committee is getting a little strapped for time and some talent. We would like to identify someone who has journalist skills and experience, who could help us write press releases/articles for the local/daily papers, and possibly assist with messages to our database. If you have these skills and have a little time to help out can you please contact us at info@supportlindfield.net.

And, of course, we're always pleased to hear from our supporters about any of the work we're doing for the community. I'm pleased to say that a few people have contacted us during our donation campaign and expressed an interest in learning more. Keep it up!

Regards,

The Support Lindfield Team
info@supportlindfield.net

DONATIONS, $9m, HOUSING STRATEGY and MORE

A BIG thank you to those who kindly and generously donated to our campaign kitty. You can see that we're very close to our target. As soon as we've finalised the candidates we choose to support we will prepare campaign material. Watch this space!

If you're still keen to donate here are the details:

EFT to our bank account BSB 633 000 account no. 147 440 192 name Support Lindfield Inc (Your reference first name + last name)

or click on this link DONATE to pay by secure credit card or Paypal.

Lindfield Village Hub Expenses

We've received the latest update from the Council as result of our application through GIPA (freedom of information) process. The total expenses from May 2013 to 30 June 2021 for the Hub project are now $9,171,567. This is an appalling waste of money with no contract with a developer in sight and a shovel won't hit the ground for at least 18 months to 2 years. THIS is why we need a change in some of the Councillors. There is no accountability by staff and the Mayor won't hold the General Manager to account.

Ku-ring-gai Housing Strategy 2020

You may remember last year that we vigorously campaigned against the Draft Housing Strategy that Council was planning to submit to the State Government. Amongst other things, it called for building heights of up to 15 storeys in Lindfield and Turramurra and up to 20 storeys in Gordon. A row between the Mayor and the Planning Minister ensued, assisted by our two MPs, Jonathan O'Dea and Alister Henskens about who was right and who was wrong. An investigation was held by the Dept. of Planning and our two MPs issued a joint media release this week. You can find it at this link. Here are some highlights:

• The current Ku-ring-gai Council zonings without any change will achieve the Greater Sydney Commission’s 6-10 year (2021-2026) dwelling target.

• “Instead of spending money on footpaths and roads, the Council has spent over $2 million on an unnecessary and now abandoned Draft Housing Strategy”, Mr Henskens said.

• “I am still at a loss to understand how Ku-ring-gai Council produced and exhibited a flawed Draft Housing Strategy that proposed 20 plus storey heights in Gordon, 15 storey heights in Turramurra and Lindfield and expanding high density to 800m from town centres instead of the existing 500m”, Mr Henskens said.

• Mr O’Dea said, “The Council’s Draft Housing Strategy never properly assessed the residual capacity in the existing zonings and vindicates the strong opposition of myself and Mr Henskens”.

• “The Department forecast includes the progression of the current planning proposals for the Lindfield Hub and the site at Roseville Memorial Park to meet the dwelling target.

Covid-safe Council Election

The Office of Local Government is starting to publish information on their website about how the elections will be run to ensure voters are safe. It appears they are not postponing the elections. We will try to keep you up to date as they publish more detail. Here is the first piece of information:

The Government will maximise voter participation by utilising iVote, and expanding the eligibility criteria for pre-poll and postal voting.

Watch this space over the next few weeks as we ramp up the activity leading to election day on 4 September. And you can help by going to our Facebook page at this link to "Like" this post.

The Support Lindfield Team

info@supportlindfield.net

Facebook.com/supportlindfield

HOW DO WE GET THE LINDFIELD VILLAGE HUB BUILT?! 😢

Q. HOW DO WE GET THE LINDFIELD VILLAGE HUB BUILT?

A. BY ELECTING COUNCILLORS WHO ARE FOCUSED ON OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY

We need your donation to reach our target and support our campaign to elect strong and community focused Councillors. We're over half way there!

You can donate in one of three ways;

• EFT to our bank account BSB 633 000 account no. 147 440 192 name Support Lindfield Inc (Your reference first name + last name)

• or click on this link DONATE to pay by secure credit card or Paypal.

Why do we need change?
Your Council has spent $9 million over 9 years on the Lindfield Village Hub project and achieved nothing, zero, zilch.

Support Lindfield is run by a small group of dedicated locals with limited resources. Your donation will help us drive change to get the Hub built.

Your donation will help fund a community campaign to make the Lindfield Village Hub a core issue in the Council election on 4th September.

Along with other community groups we are identifying a group of candidates (including some existing Councillors who have supported the project) who are seriously up for the job and focused on delivering outcomes for the community.

Your donation will be used to design/print/distribute flyers and posters and Facebook promotions.

Thank you.

---

We could use your talents
If you have skills and experience in communications, marketing, advertising campaigns, and graphic design or are just good at getting things done, then put your hand up. We need your professional help with the community campaign in the coming election. Contact us at info@supportlindfield.net

And please pass this along to your local friends and neighbours.

---

Here’s a reminder of the Lindfield Village Hub journey….. or read the full timeline here

In 2012 Support Lindfield approached the then Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian who put a hold on plans to build a multi-storey commuter carpark behind the West Lindfield shops to allow time for a better project to be conceived. The Community worked together to create a vision for the Lindfield Village Hub that included a town square, library, other community facilities, café precinct, specialty retail and supermarket.

Woolworths put forward several proposals to build the project, like those they have delivered for other Sydney Councils. They would fund the building of the Hub in return for a lease on the supermarket space with Council funding limited to fitting out the community facilities using funds generated from the sale of the current library site. No additional Council/ratepayers money would be required.

Council rejected these offers and instead have pursued an expensive consultant-led process to identify requirements and determine an alternate design. Despite an exhaustive tender process Woolworths is effectively the only development group still interested and Council remains unwilling to commit to starting the project. The amount spent on the project to date equates to around $3300 per Lindfield household.

We need a Council committed and capable of serving the community by overseeing appropriate planning policy and the development and revitalisation of shopping precincts and community facilities.

Support Lindfield will endorse candidates in all Ku-ring-gai Council wards who will commit to making the Hub happen. We welcome collaboration with other community groups in Ku-ring-gai who also see the need for change. Email us at info@supportlindfield.net if you are interested in standing in the 2021 Council elections or working with us for change.

The Support Lindfield Team

info@supportlindfield.net

It's Time for Change in Ku-ring-gai

We need your help…………..
 
Your Council has spent $9 million over 9 years on the Lindfield Village Hub project and achieved nothing, zero, zilch.
 

Support Lindfield is run by a small group of
dedicated locals with limited resources.
Your donation will help us drive change.

 
Your donation will help fund a community campaign to make the Lindfield Village Hub a core issue in the upcoming Council election on 4th September.
 
Along with other community groups we aim to identify a group of candidates (including some existing Councillors who have supported us) who are seriously up for the job and focused on delivering outcomes for the community.
 
Your donation will be used to design/print/distribute flyers and Facebook promotions.  Our target is $6000.
 
You can donate in one of three ways; 

• EFT to our bank account BSB 633 000 account no. 147 440 192 name Support Lindfield Inc (Your reference first name + last name)

• or click on this link DONATE to pay by secure credit card or Paypal.

Thank you.

---

We could use your talents
 If you have skills and experience in communications, marketing, advertising campaigns, and graphic design or are just good at getting things done, then put your hand up. We need your professional help with the community campaign in the coming election. Contact us at info@supportlindfield.net
 
And please pass this along to your local friends and neighbours.

---

Here’s a reminder of the Lindfield Village Hub journey….. Or read the full timeline here
In 2012 Support Lindfield approached the then Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian who put a hold on plans to build a multi-storey commuter carpark behind the West Lindfield shops to allow time for a better project to be conceived. The Community worked together to create a vision for the Lindfield Village Hub that included a town square, library, other community facilities, café precinct, specialty retail and supermarket.
 
Woolworths put forward several proposals to build the project, like those they have delivered for other Sydney Councils. They would fund the building of the Hub in return for a lease on the supermarket space with Council funding limited to fitting out the community facilities using funds generated from the sale of the current library site. No additional Council/ratepayers money would be required.
 
Council rejected these offers and instead have pursued an expensive consultant-led process to identify requirements and determine an alternate design. Despite an exhaustive tender process Woolworths is effectively the only development group still interested and Council remains unwilling to commit to starting the project. The amount spent on the project to date equates to around $3300 per Lindfield household.
 
We need a Council committed and capable of serving the community by overseeing appropriate planning policy and the development and revitalisation of shopping precincts and community facilities.
 
Support Lindfield will endorse candidates in all Ku-ring-gai Council wards who will commit to making the Hub happen. We welcome collaboration with other community groups in Ku-ring-gai who also see the need for change. Email us at info@supportlindfield.net if you are interested in standing in the 2021 Council elections or working with us for change.
 
The Support Lindfield Team
info@supportlindfield.net

It’s Time for Change in Ku-ring-gai Council

Positions Vacant – Councillors - Apply Now for Election in September

It’s time….for Change…. in Ku-ring-gai
Council has spent 9 years and $9 million on the Lindfield Village Hub and achieved Nothing, Zero, Zilch.
New Councillors are needed if we want a different result.

Contact Support Lindfield if you are interested in standing in the 2021 Council elections. We will support great candidates. info@supportlindfield.net

Here’s a reminder of the long journey….. 

In 2012, following an approach by Support Lindfield, the then Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian put on hold the planned multi-storey commuter carpark to allow time for a better project to be conceived. Our Community worked together to create a vision for the Lindfield Village Hub that included a new heart to our Village comprising, town square, library, other community facilities, café precinct, specialty retail and supermarket.

Over the years Woolworths have put forward several proposals to undertake the project, like those they delivered for three other Sydney Councils. They proposed to build the Hub with limited money coming from the sale of the existing library site, no additional Council/ratepayers money was required.

Council rejected this, instead pursuing an expensive consultant-led process and have spent $9 million of our money. Despite an exhaustive tender process and with only one development group left (effectively Woolworths) Council is still unable to commit to starting the project. No results are in sight despite spending $3300 per Lindfield household. Yes, your $3300 for no results.

Our community is understandably very frustrated and disillusioned by Ku-ring-gai Council’s lack of progress. Change is needed if we want a different result, and it is now within the power of the community to achieve this at the ballot box. Support Lindfield will be supporting candidates in all Ku-ring-gai Council wards who will commit to making the Hub happen. We welcome collaboration with other community groups in Ku-ring-gai who also see the need for change. Email us at info@supportlindfield.net

It’s time to vote in Councillors who will deliver for the community.