how we got to where we are
The Timeline
This is the history with key dates of the Support Lindfield Village Hub.
2012
Transport for NSW proposed building an above-ground commuter car park on the existing Council owned site at Woodford Lane, behind the shops on the western side of the Pacific Hwy
Lindfield Community Bank hosted a community workshop to brainstorm ideas for projects for Lindfield. One local architect (Andrew Sweeney) came along with a vision for the Woodford Lane site … take advantage of the natural slope by putting the car park underground and build much needed community infrastructure on top, including shops, green space, new library … "a new village heart".
Support Lindfield formed to: halt building of the above-ground car park; encourage Council to develop a masterplan for the site; seize this once in a life time opportunity to identify & pursue better options for the site (Linda McDonald, non exec director of the Community Bank and long term Lindfield resident, elected President)
Support Lindfield organised an “Ideas Workshop” attended by 80 residents and business people. The ideas workshop was held to discuss alternative ways of developing the Woodford Lane-Drovers Way car park such that it is a win-win for the State Government, Ku-ring-gai Council and local residents and businesses.
2013
Support Lindfield successfully lobbied State Govt (local MP Barry O’Farrell and TfNSW Minister Gladys Berijiklian), Council and community and the commuter parking station project was postponed and wrapped into what became the Hub project.
Council developed a Masterplan, including land acquisition/reclassification, traffic & facilities study
Support Lindfield organised Community Forum #2
2014
Woolworths submitted an unsolicited proposal to Council, incl: pedestrian bridge over the Pacific Hwy (they own the Westpac, Lindfield Community Bank & Lindfield Pharmacy premises); underground entry to a new supermarket and retail; underground car park for commuter and short stays; community facilities on top. Council responded in October 2014 that they would not accept their proposal and would go out to tender.
Support Lindfield organised Community Forum #3 attended by 170 residents
2015
Support Lindfield ran an on-line community survey … results collated & professionally presented to Council.
Support Lindfield organised Community Directions Forum #4
Council community consultation (on site vans, surveys, etc)
Council identification of Conceptual Development Options
Support Lindfield successfully lobbied Council to include a fourth option, with no residential component
Council unanimously agreed to adopt Option 2 and EOI was due before year-end
2016
Council decision to deliver the project by a Private Public Partnership (PPP) based on legal advice
Support Lindfield organised (and funded; Council declined to participate) a Community Placemaking workshop. Facilitated by Gilbert Rochecouste, responsible for the well loved "Laneway Precinct" in Melbourne. His company, "Village Well” work solely on placemaking projects, in conjunction with Councils & developers around Australia & overseas)
Support Lindfield professionally presented the results of the Placemaking Workshop to Council, who were very positive and requested to include it in their EOI
2018
OMC Agenda Item GB.4, Lindfield Village Hub - Update, stated that it is likely that the FSR will have to increase from 1.3:1 to 2.5:1 in order for the project to be financially viable and to attract developers.
Support Lindfield contacted 3 developers, who all said that an FSR of 2.5 could easily result in 17 or even 20 storeys on the site. Council denied this and refused to disclose any specific potential height or at what level developers became interested. However, it was clear that different heights had been considered and Council were not just considering a small increase to 8 storeys, which is currently the highest in Ku-ring-gai.
EOI Issued, finally! 18 responses.
Council carried out community engagement process from November 2018 to May 2019 to encourage the community to accept Council’s preferred scenario with 10, 12 and 14 storey towers.
2019
Short list of five developers made public. Request for Tender due to be sent to these companies mid 2019.
Support Lindfield lobbied Councillors to vote against the proposed height in the Planning Proposal submitted to Council in July.
Planning Proposal recommended 8, 10 and 14 storey towers; no decision made.
Planning Proposal resubmitted to Council in August; Support Lindfield continued the campaign for Councillors to vote against the height proposal.
Motion for a 9 storey and maximum height compromise was put up at the meeting and was approved.
Request for Tender was sent to five developers December 2019.
2020
After Council Officers refused to release a suite of documents (including the Request for Tender) under our GIPA (Freedom of Information) request, Support Lindfield requests review of the decisions with the Information and Privacy Commission (NSW). Request for access to the RFT is recommended by IPC.
Tenders closed on 3 April 2020 with two developers submitting bids. Fabcot (Woolworths) and Aqualand.
Council approved Planning Proposal end of April 2020 for submission to State Government Planning Department for Gateway Determination.
Advised mid May that there is no timeframe for completion of evaluation of the bids.
30 June Councillors approve report from Council Officers stating the tenders received did not conform to the requirements of the RFT and they recommend negotiating with the two tenderers; report to be prepared in three months and submitted to October Council meeting. (See Report at this link.)
Support Lindfield writes to all Councillors over major concerns with the progress of the project. (See letter at this link). Counsellor Sam Ngai replied. (See his reply at this link.) Mayor Anderson replied on 27 July and her response is at this link.
Support Lindfield representatives meet with Council General Manager and other senior officers to discuss a range of topics related to the Project. No useful information was forthcoming from that meeting.
20 October Council officers report that “negotiations have progressed, but not yet reached a conclusion”. Councillors received a written report that was confidential and not available to the public. There is no indication when “a conclusion” will be reached.
December 2020 Support Lindfield submitted two GIPA (freedom of information) applications to NCAT (NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal) after Council conducted reviews and again refused to release documents; the applications are currently going through the processes.
December 2020 LVH Tender Negotiation Update - Supplementary Report submitted to Council meeting with confidential documents. Councillors resolved “a. the LVH tender and subsequent negotiation period has coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, creating a global economic downturn, uncertainty in the property market and impacting on project viability and competitive tension. b. that an offer has not yet been received that is financially viable. c. continue to negotiate with any possible providers, while undertaking a review of Council’s project assumptions and objectives.”
2021
October 2021 Comments from report to Council from Council Officers. On 20 July 2021 Council considered a revised market engagement strategy for the LVH project. Having considered the strategy, Council resolved to continue negotiations. The initial stage of the negotiations has now been undertaken, with a number of proposals received. Analysis of the proposals suggests that a viable commercial outcome for the project may be possible. The results indicate a significant turnaround from the offers received during the 2020 tender and post tender negotiations. It was resolved that Council: Note the significant improvement in market conditions, sentiment and commercial responses since the 2020 tender and post tender negotiations and continue to progress negotiations.
2022
January 2022 The Civil and Administrative Tribunal of New South Wales (NCAT) gave its decision in relation to its review of a GIPA application brought by Support Lindfield December 2020 against Ku-ring-gai Council in relation to release of a suite of historical documents and the Request for Tender relating to the Lindfield Village Hub project. “There is a significant public interest in the information sought by the applicant. However, principally because of the nature of the withheld information and the fact that negotiations between the Council and parties who might develop the Project have not concluded, there is also a significant public interest in maintaining the confidentiality of that information.” The determination instructed that five documents be released, all of which related to the history prior to 2015. A copy of the documents released are on Council’s website along with a link to the 78 page decision from NCAT.