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Media Release - Minister Beamer's Office Sydney: 28 May 2004 BETTER HOUSING CHOICES FOR KU-RING-GAI NSW Assistant Planning Minister, Diane Beamer, has approved a new Local Environmental Plan for Ku-ring-gai, providing a greater choice of housing in areas close to transport and other services.
“The plan allows for increased medium density in areas in the transport corridor along the Pacific Highway and North Shore rail line,” Ms Beamer said.
“The making of this plan now gives Ku-ring-gai the opportunity to look ahead to revitalise its suburbs and provide appropriate housing alternatives for all generations in Ku-ring-gai.”
Ms Beamer said she had written to Ku-ring-gai’s new Mayor, Cr Adrienne Ryan, advising her of the approval of LEP 194, and urging Council to take up the challenge of providing a strategic view in relation to the future provision of housing for all of Ku-ring-gai.
“We recently met and had a frank and open discussion on the planning issues facing Ku-ring-gai and I now believe Government and Council can look forward to renewed cooperation in future projects, providing much needed housing in the most accessible areas”, Ms Beamer said.
The Government’s State Environmental Planning Policy No. 53 (SEPP 53) required Councils to prepare residential development strategies to address local housing needs and contribute to planning for a more compact Sydney.
“This plan achieves these aims and therefore I’m exempting Ku-ring-gai Council from SEPP 53 for the areas covered by this LEP,” Ms Beamer said.
“Council now controls the zoning of this land.
“This new plan provides for improved links between housing, jobs and services, as well as promoting equity in access opportunities.”
The plan contains one medium density zone covering the transport spine from Roseville to Wahroonga, the maximum height of five stories is only allowed on sites of more than 2,400 square metres and developments must not cover more than 35% of the site.
The plan also includes seven ‘special areas’ allowing medium density development in Warrawee, Turramurra, St Ives, Gordon, Lindfield (2) and Roseville.
The Roseville Special Area was reduced by more than half because the Minister considered the areas removed as unsuitable for medium density housing.
“Heritage protection was also an important consideration in the development of the LEP,” Ms Beamer said.
No identified heritage item is included in the plan - three sites have been removed from the draft LEP to protect them from future redevelopment; the Uniting Church at Roseville, No 10 Woniora Avenue, Wahroonga, and 10 Cecil Street, Gordon.
Ms Beamer urged Council to refocus Council’s planning resources on Stage Two of its Residential Housing Strategy.
“There are a number of important areas along the transport spine which appear to be appropriate for increased density in the form of ‘shop top’ housing. Retail and commercial areas are in need of revitalisation.
“I am directing Council to prepare an LEP in relation to these areas and some neighbourhood centres outside the transport spine already identified in Stage Two of the strategy.
“We’ll be monitoring Council’s progress on this and when planning is sufficiently advanced, I’ll consider handing back zoning powers for the remaining areas of Ku-ring-gai.”
Ms Beamer said she was also aware of Council’s concerns relating to the misuse of the dual occupancy provisions of SEPP 53.
“In this regard I have directed my department to investigate the need to amend the State Policy to ensure that the original intention of the dual occupancy provisions are realised in Ku-ring-gai,” Ms Beamer said.
© NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources
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