The Ku-ring-gai Record

The council deferred consideration and endorsement of three draft submissions on major NSW strategic planning reforms. The submissions respond to the reforms, which the council heard go to the heart of housing.

Councillor Matt Devlin moved the alternate motion. It defers the submissions to an extraordinary meeting of Council to be held before 28 February 2026, to let councillors properly review the documents and give the community a chance to become aware of them before the council takes a position.

"This is not a comment on the quality of the work undertaken by staff"

Councillor Devlin said the submissions are substantial and clearly the product of serious effort, but he was concerned about the process and timing. Councillor Jeff Pettett seconded the motion.

The meeting went into confidential session, with members of the public and the press asked to leave and the webcast suspended. When the meeting resumed, the mayor said that during confidential session the council resolved that an action set out in a note initialled by the mayor be implemented and reported to council. That motion was moved by Councillor Balachandran and seconded by Councillor Taylor, and it was carried.

The council also accepted the 2025-26 budget review for the second quarter ended December 2025. Councillor Balachandran, who moved it, thanked staff for developing the report, which she said came from a motion last year so councillors could understand how capital budgets are spent and carried forward.

Turning to the budget, Councillor Balachandran asked about a table on page 105 of the papers showing capital expenditure and carry forward amounts. She noted that in 21-22, 61 out of 115 million was carried forward and it dropped to 24 out of 80, and asked if she was reading it correctly. In reply, staff told her the figures she was looking at were loan repayments that had to be paid in December, and that the council usually budgets for them through a fixed loan repayment schedule with the bank.

Earlier, the council recognised eight Ku-ring-gai residents who received 2026 Australia Day Honours. Councillor Taylor paid tribute to Jill Green, an advocate for the natural environment for many decades and a member of the Environment Committee, calling her dedication, persistence and professional disposition inspirational.

The council also recognised Penny Lancaster for her lifetime contribution to dance education in Australia. Councillor Balachandran said the community is incredibly rich in the depth and breadth of artistic endeavours and that she was pleased to see Penny Lancaster acknowledged for her lifetime's work.

The mayor said the webcast of the meeting would be available on the council website and minutes published within the next two working days. The meeting was declared closed at 8.44.