A surprise three-way mayoral race has resulted in the election of Wahroonga ward councillor Kim Wheatley as the newest mayor of Ku-ring-gai, replacing Christine Kay. 

What happened: Three councillors ran for the mayoralty. The Lorikeet reported on Tuesday that Indu Balachandran and Kim Wheatley were the frontrunners for the position, each appealing for support from the nine other councillors. 

A third contender: This did not stop Barbara Ward from throwing her hat in the ring, though she failed to garner a single vote — not even her own — and was eliminated in the first round of voting. 

In the first round, votes were split 6 – 4 in Wheatley’s favour. Balachandran’s supporters were Alec Taylor, Christine Kay and Barbara Ward. Wheatley was supported by Matt Devlin, Martin Smith, Jeff Pettett, Sam Ngai, Cedric Spencer.

In the second round, Wheatley’s majority increased to 7, with Ward flipping sides. Following this, Wheatley assumed the throne of Ku-ring-gai Council chambers. 

Heavy is the head: As mayor, Wheatley will inherit responsibility for managing the catastrophic Norman Griffiths Oval redevelopment, a massive infrastructure backlog and the implementation of a 29 percent rate rise. 

The new position will grant Wheatley a casting vote, meaning when council is tied on an issue, she decides which way to proceed. 

Councillor Matt Devlin was also elected to the position of deputy mayor unopposed. If the mayor is ill or absent, the deputy will take their place. Both Wheatley and Devlin are unaligned politically and not members of any party. 

In Ku-ring-gai, the annual mayoral fee is $81,380, in addition to the councillor fee. This means Wheatley will be paid $112,020 annually by ratepayers. The deputy mayor receives the regular councillor fee of $30,640.

Watch the full video below.

⏱️ The 136th edition of our newsletter is a five-minute read.

Morning all,

By the time you’re reading this, Ku-ring-gai Council will have elected a new mayor. You might find the result surprising, disappointing, or — like many things at Ku-ring-gai Council — a massive anti-climax.

But right now, as I’m writing this, it could be anyone’s game.

So why does it matter? It’s true: for most North Shore councils, the election of the mayor isn’t really as important as the general makeup of the council.

But Ku-ring-gai is a tightly contested council, where major decisions — such as the Norman Griffiths Oval redevelopment — often come down to the mayor’s casting vote.

As such, the changing of the guard this week could have major ramifications for Ku-ring-gai ratepayers. While by this time you’ll know the result, if you’re interested in a Rats in the Rank-esque peek behind the curtain of local politics, have a read below.

Who wants to be the Mayor of Ku-ring-gai?

Indu Balachandran and Kim Wheatley are rumoured to standing, however insiders say the race is changing by the hour.

🗞️ Now, into the rest of the news…

HEARD THIS WEEK👂

📽️ Roseville Cinemas up for sale for first time in more than 50 years

Roseville’s historic cinema is officially hitting the market, 52 years since it was purchased by the Van Pinxteren family in 1974.

Originally built in 1912 as a community hall, Roseville Cinemas opened in 1936 and hosted concerts, major film premiers and even acted as a recruitment centre for troops during World War I.

Sitting just opposite Roseville Train Station, the site is currently open to Expressions of Interest through global property consultancy Knight Frank.

How we got here: A June judgement from the Supreme Court of NSW ordered the sale, with a trustee appointed. The case was initially brought to the court by three defendants — Marcos Holdings, Emma Addario (the director of the cinema) and Lisa Van Pinxteren — in relation to the will of the late Susan Helen Van Pixteren.

Rich history: Mark Litwin, agent at Knight Frank, said in a statement the property was one of the most unique investment opportunities to come to the market in Sydney this year.

“The Roseville Cinema is one of Sydney’s last remaining independent cinemas and has served the local community for more than a century”, he said. “Opportunities to acquire assets with this level of history and prominence are extraordinarily scarce”.

The cinema is located within Roseville’s Transit-Oriented Development precinct, meaning it will sit at the centre of a growing hub of apartments and shops within the suburb.

Expressions of Interest close at 3pm on October 8, 2026.

Read the full story below.

Roseville Cinemas up for sale for first time in more than 50 years

The building, which includes two theatres, remains one of only a few historic Sydney cinemas still standing.

🎾 After all the racket, tennis survives in Naremburn

A problematic lease agreement drawn up over 20 years ago lies at the heart of a North Shore dispute that has seen a well-established tennis centre booted out in favour of a new tenant.

Northern Suburbs Tennis Association (NSTA), based in Naremburn, has eight tennis courts and two buildings, which include a clubhouse, cafe, office space and changing rooms.

The association has operated out of the prime, 15,000 square metre, Talus Reserve site for 48 years. The land was leased to the group by Willoughby Council, which collected a relatively modest rent in return. 

Last week, it was announced that a new operator, Racquet Club, would be taking over as the site’s operator. Racquet Club co-founder Darren McMullen said the decision came down to making a better offer on rent. 

What happened: On August 7, NSTA received an eviction notice, stating the group would have to vacate the site by the end of September. 

The letter came from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC), which in  2022 had made a successful claim on the land and part of the adjacent reserve. 

How do land claims work? 

There are two legal frameworks under which Aboriginal land rights can be recognised in NSW. 

• The first comes from the federal Native Title Act in 1993, which came about as a result of the Mabo case. Under this system, Traditional Owners must prove an ongoing cultural and spiritual connection to the land. The decision making body is the Federal Court of Australia. 

• The second, older system exists under the 1983 Aboriginal Land Rights Act, legislated in NSW law. Under this system, a Local Aboriginal Land Council can claim land if it is Crown land (owned by the government), has never been sold and is not currently used. The decision making body is the NSW Government. 

• Under the NSW system, ongoing connection does not need to be proved, and a successful claim grants the council freehold title.

Ownership of Talus Reserve was transferred to the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council via this second system, after a claim was approved in 2022 by then Planning Minister Rob Stokes. 

Why?: At the nub of the matter was the requirement for the site to not currently be in use. Clearly, the Naremburn site was long-established as a tennis centre, and so was in use.

However, bubbling away in the background was a 2016 NSW Supreme Court ruling, which found the lease arrangement in 2000 between Willoughby City Council and NSTA was invalid due to the public land being used for private business purposes.

While that lease was between the NSTA and council, the association has allowed Love’n Deuce, a private tennis company, to operate on their premises since 1992. 

In his 2016 ruling Justice Brereton said: “The demise of the whole of the Reserve to a private association, whose members have priority rights to use of the Reserve, is plainly not a use for public recreation.”

And so, even though the land was in use, it was not legitimately in use. Six years after this ruling, the Liberal minister Stokes approved the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council’s claim.

NSTA president Wayne Pascoe told the Lorikeet he contests this judgement, saying the courts are open to members of the club and the public. As for Justice Brereton’s ruling that “members have priority rights”, Pascoe said “anyone can book a court any time”.

Land councils: The purpose of land councils is to “improve, protect and foster the best interests” of Aboriginal people within its area. One of the key services the MLALC provides is the provision of housing for Aboriginal people in Sydney.

The councils are self-funded and manage their own revenue streams. 

The previous rent arrangement for the tennis facility was inherited when the MLALC took ownership of the site in 2022. 

NTSA pays about $950 a week in rent for the site. McMullen called this a “red hot deal”. He wouldn’t reveal how much rent Racquet Club was paying the land council, but said it was “slightly above market rate” and “much more” than the previous rental paid to council.

Precedent: Peter Butt, a professor of law specialising in land and native title, told the Lorikeet disused sports and recreational facilities are typically the site of land claims, due to the fact that they are often on leased Crown land.

He pointed to the examples of Paddington and Waverton bowling clubs: “The club folds, the land is left unused.”

The new tenant, Racquet Club, intends to keep tennis running at the location, but has plans to repurpose two of the tennis courts for pickleball. 

It intends to allow the NSTA to remain on the premises, provided financial terms can be agreed on. Pascoe told the Lorikeet the association was still negotiating with the new tenants, and that meetings had been productive.

The land council has previously put forward plans to redevelop the site into an 18-storey housing development. These plans were rejected by the Housing Delivery Authority in March. 

McMullen wouldn’t comment on the length of the lease, but said it was long enough to justify tipping $500,000 into upgrades, including a new cafe, restaurant and bar, ice baths and a sauna.

Read the full story below.

After all the racket, tennis survives in Naremburn

The refurbished venue plans to have pickleball courts, a new cafe, restaurant and bar, ice baths and a sauna.

🏠️ Why Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele wants an official definition of "affordable housing"

As development across the North Shore increases, the phrase “affordable housing” has become something heard more often; even if you’re not too sure what it really means.

The federal government isn’t too sure, either.

Despite the billions of federal investment into delivering more “affordable” housing across Australia, a precise definition of the phrase — crossing different programs and state borders — has never been provided.

For Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele, that’s something that needs to change.

What happened: In parliament on Monday, Boele introduced a bill calling for a “strict, consistent national definition” that would peg rents on affordable housing units at 30 percent of the household’s pre-tax income.

Boele said current definitions allowed developer’s units to be labelled “affordable” while being fundamentally unaffordable to anyone eligible for the scheme.

What’s in it: The bill calls for governments to ensure the affordability term is “not used unless it complies with this definition, so no one can go around affordable-washing”.

Boele claims this change is “critical to bringing host communities along the journey to absorbing more density in their suburbs and neighbourhoods”.

How does it work: In New South Wales, a developer can build higher and wider than regular planning restrictions would allow if they designate a certain portion of the project toward “affordable housing”.

For a complex of 100 apartments, this could mean 10-15 are subsidised.

How exactly these apartments are subsidised varies. In theory, the rent could be pegged at 30 percent of a tenants income, before tax; however, in practice, they are more often rented out at a market discount of 20–25 percent.

In high-rent areas — St Leonards, Gordon, Killara — this can still be far from affordable in a practical sense.

Boele is calling for a national definition so that housing can not be called “affordable” unless it reaches the benchmark of 30 percent of a household's gross income.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare defines rental stress as when a household spends more than 30 percent of income on rent.

What now? The Member for Bradfield has seen engagement from the government on this issue.

Responding to Boele in Question Time last week, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government had asked their economic advisors to look into “the different definitions and frameworks that currently operate across Australia, and to see what our options are for more consistency”.

Read the full story here.

Why Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele wants an official definition of "affordable housing"

The proposal would ensure rent sits at 30 percent of pre-tax income or lower.

That’ll be all from me today.

As always, if you have a news tip, an idea for a story or think there’s something I should be covering, hit reply to this email or reach out at huw@northshorelorikeet.com.au.

If you enjoy the Lorikeet and would like to support us, please click on the banner below to chip in. Every dollar counts and helps keep the Lorikeet free for all our readers.

Click the banner to support the Lorikeet

Cheers,

Huw

Two mayoral hopefuls will battle it out at Ku-ring-gai Council chambers tonight, as the upper North Shore council meets to decide who will lead it for the next two years.

The two names supposedly in the running are Indu Balachandran (representing the Gordon ward) and Kim Wheatley (representing the Wahroonga ward). The current mayor is Christine Kay.

The split: The pair represent opposing sides on multiple council matters. Balachandran supports natural turf and campaigned to save Marian Street Theatre, whereas Wheatley supports artificial turf and voted to dump the theatre redevelopment project. The two will likely draw supporters on the basis of these issues. 

But multiple councillors have also told the Lorikeet the race is changing by the hour. Some believe it won’t be until tonight’s 7pm meeting that they truly know who has mayoral ambitions. 

Councillor Smith, who claims he doesn’t plan to stand, told the Lorikeet it was “like watching a horse race”.

How does it work: In New South Wales, there are two ways a mayor is elected. In the first, the mayor is elected directly by the people during local council elections, and serves a four year term. In the second, councillors vote amongst themselves to decide who becomes mayor. 

Ku-ring-gai uses the second option, rotating mayors on a two-year term.

The mayoralty is not just an honorific. It comes with many special privileges, such as:

• The moderation of council meetings

• Being able to work directly with staff and the council CEO

• Acting as the public face of council

• A casting vote, meaning when council is tied on an issue, they decide which way to proceed. 

And of course, the role also comes with a much larger paycheque.

Contested: In recent council meetings, voting on major issues — such as the redevelopment of Norman Griffith Oval — have been split 5 – 5, and come down to the Mayors casting vote. As such, the changing of the guard this week could have major ramifications for Ku-ring-gai ratepayers.

If the council is split 5 – 5 on the election of a mayor, a name is drawn out of a hat. The last time this occurred was in 2021, resulting in the election of Cedric Spencer. 

Which way’s which? The Councillors of Ku-ring-gai can be highly divided along many lines — political party, personal grievances, position on artificial turf — and as such no clear voting bloc exists. 

While there are many Liberals sitting on Ku-ring-gai Council, none ran for election as official, party-endorsed Liberal councillors. Even if there was a formal party bloc, those Liberal-aligned councillors — Pettett, Ngai, Ward, Kay and formerly, Spencer — can often be at each other's throats.

“They're all splintered, none have the numbers” Councillor Cedric Spencer, a former senior Liberal said.

“[Mayor Christine Kay] doesn’t have more than 1 or 2, same with Sam [Ngai], same with Barbara [Ward]”.

Long time coming: The machinations have been going on for months. In August, an entire meeting was called for one councillor to change his vote on a particular issue, only for that councillor not to change their vote. Multiple councillors claimed that this major anti-climax was the result of behind-the-scenes dealings over the mayoralty. 

Councillor Matt Devlin claimed the mayoral election was taking a serious toll on the basic functionality of the council. He told the Lorikeet the past two months had been “the most toxic and frustrating period of my two years on Council”. 

“Larry Hand, eat your heart out”.

Christine Kay, Indu Balachandran, Kim Wheatley, Barbara Ward and Alec Tayor were contacted for comment.

A problematic lease agreement drawn up over 20 years ago lies at the heart of a North Shore dispute that has seen a well-established tennis centre booted out in favour of a new tenant.

Northern Suburbs Tennis Association (NSTA), based in Naremburn, has eight tennis courts and two buildings, which include a clubhouse, cafe, office space and changing rooms.

The association has operated out of the prime, 15,000 square metre, Talus Reserve site for 48 years. The land was leased to the group by Willoughby Council, which collected a relatively modest rent in return. 

Last week, it was announced that a new operator, Racquet Club, would be taking over as the site’s operator. Racquet Club co-founder Darren McMullen said the decision came down to making a better offer on rent. 

What happened: On August 7, NSTA received an eviction notice, stating the group would have to vacate the site by the end of September. 

The letter came from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC), which in  2022 had made a successful claim on the land and part of the adjacent reserve. 

How do land claims work? 

There are two legal frameworks under which Aboriginal land rights can be recognised in NSW. 

• The first comes from the federal Native Title Act in 1993, which came about as a result of the Mabo case. Under this system, Traditional Owners must prove an ongoing cultural and spiritual connection to the land. The decision making body is the Federal Court of Australia. 

• The second, older system exists under the 1983 Aboriginal Land Rights Act, legislated in NSW law. Under this system, a Local Aboriginal Land Council can claim land if it is Crown land (owned by the government), has never been sold and is not currently used. The decision making body is the NSW Government. 

• Under the NSW system, ongoing connection does not need to be proved, and a successful claim grants the council freehold title.

Ownership of Talus Reserve was transferred to the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council via this second system, after a claim was approved in 2022 by then Planning Minister Rob Stokes. 

Why?: At the nub of the matter was the requirement for the site to not currently be in use. Clearly, the Naremburn site was long-established as a tennis centre, and so was in use.

However, bubbling away in the background was a 2016 NSW Supreme Court ruling, which found the lease arrangement in 2000 between Willoughby City Council and NSTA was invalid due to the public land being used for private business purposes.

While that lease was between the NSTA and council, the association has allowed Love’n Deuce, a private tennis company, to operate on their premises since 1992. 

In his 2016 ruling Justice Brereton said: “The demise of the whole of the Reserve to a private association, whose members have priority rights to use of the Reserve, is plainly not a use for public recreation.”

And so, even though the land was in use, it was not legitimately in use. Six years after this ruling, the Liberal minister Stokes approved the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council’s claim.

NSTA president Wayne Pascoe told the Lorikeet he contests this judgement, saying the courts are open to members of the club and the public. As for Justice Brereton’s ruling that “members have priority rights”, Pascoe said “anyone can book a court any time”.

Land councils: The purpose of land councils is to “improve, protect and foster the best interests” of Aboriginal people within its area. One of the key services the MLALC provides is the provision of housing for Aboriginal people in Sydney.

The councils are self-funded and manage their own revenue streams. 

The previous rent arrangement for the tennis facility was inherited when the MLALC took ownership of the site in 2022. 

NTSA pays about $950 a week in rent for the site. McMullen called this a “red hot deal”. He wouldn’t reveal how much rent Racquet Club was paying the land council, but said it was “slightly above market rate” and “much more” than the previous rental paid to council.

Precedent: Peter Butt, a professor of law specialising in land and native title, told the Lorikeet disused sports and recreational facilities are typically the site of land claims, due to the fact that they are often on leased Crown land.

He pointed to the examples of Paddington and Waverton bowling clubs: “The club folds, the land is left unused.”

The new tenant, Racquet Club, intends to keep tennis running at the location, but has plans to repurpose two of the tennis courts for pickleball. 

It intends to allow the NSTA to remain on the premises, provided financial terms can be agreed on. Pascoe told the Lorikeet the association was still negotiating with the new tenants, and that meetings had been productive.

The land council has previously put forward plans to redevelop the site into an 18-storey housing development. These plans were rejected by the Housing Delivery Authority in March. 

McMullen wouldn’t comment on the length of the lease, but said it was long enough to justify tipping $500,000 into upgrades, including a new cafe, restaurant and bar, ice baths and a sauna.

The Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council and Willoughby City Council were contacted for comment.

As development across the North Shore increases, the phrase “affordable housing” has become something heard more often; even if you’re not too sure what it really means. 

The federal government isn’t too sure, either. 

Despite the billions of federal investment into delivering more “affordable” housing across Australia, a precise definition of the phrase — crossing different programs and state borders — has never been provided. 

For Bradfield MP Nicolette Boele, that’s something that needs to change.

What happened: In parliament on Monday, Boele introduced a bill calling for a “strict, consistent national definition” that would peg rents on affordable housing units at 30 percent of the household’s pre-tax income. 

Boele said current definitions allowed developer’s units to be labelled “affordable” while being fundamentally unaffordable to anyone eligible for the scheme.

What’s in it: The bill calls for governments to ensure the affordability term is “not used unless it complies with this definition, so no one can go around affordable-washing”.

Boele claims this change is “critical to bringing host communities along the journey to absorbing more density in their suburbs and neighbourhoods”.

How does it work: In New South Wales, a developer can build higher and wider than regular planning restrictions would allow if they designate a certain portion of the project toward “affordable housing”. 

For a complex of 100 apartments, this could mean 10-15 are subsidised. 

How exactly these apartments are subsidised varies. In theory, the rent could be pegged at 30 percent of a tenants income, before tax; however, in practice, they are more often rented out at a market discount of 20–25 percent.

In high-rent areas — St Leonards, Gordon, Killara — this can still be far from affordable in a practical sense.

Boele is calling for a national definition so that housing can not be called “affordable” unless it reaches the benchmark of 30 percent of a household's gross income. 

• The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare defines rental stress as when a household spends more than 30 percent of income on rent.

What now? The Member for Bradfield has seen engagement from the government on this issue.

Responding to Boele in Question Time last week, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government had asked their economic advisors to look into “the different definitions and frameworks that currently operate across Australia, and to see what our options are for more consistency”.

Roseville’s historic cinema is officially hitting the market, 52 years since it was purchased by the Van Pinxteren family in 1974.

Originally built in 1912 as a community hall, Roseville Cinemas opened in 1936 and hosted concerts, major film premiers and even acted as a recruitment centre for troops during World War I.

Sitting just opposite Roseville Train Station, the site is currently open to Expressions of Interest through global property consultancy Knight Frank.

How we got here: A June judgement from the Supreme Court of NSW ordered the sale, with a trustee appointed. The case was initially brought to the court by three defendants — Marcos Holdings, Emma Addario (the director of the cinema) and Lisa Van Pinxteren — in relation to the will of the late Susan Helen Van Pixteren.

Fate of Roseville Cinemas looks dire, as court orders sale

The Van Pinxteren family’s ownership of the historical theatre could soon come to an end.

Rich history: Mark Litwin, agent at Knight Frank, said in a statement the property was one of the most unique investment opportunities to come to the market in Sydney this year.

“The Roseville Cinema is one of Sydney’s last remaining independent cinemas and has served the local community for more than a century”, he said. “Opportunities to acquire assets with this level of history and prominence are extraordinarily scarce”.

The cinema is located within Roseville’s Transit-Oriented Development precinct, meaning it will sit at the centre of a growing hub of apartments and shops within the suburb.

Expressions of Interest close at 3pm on October 8, 2026.

Mosman Council will install surveillance cameras to counter tree vandalism, after further damage to the Port Jackson figs at Balmoral Beach.

What happened: Late last year, vandals hacked two semi-mature Port Jackson fig trees. Numerous branches were cut off, but the trees survived. Council’s immediate response was to erect a banner blocking any views gained from the “illegal vegetation removal”.

In May, council approved the removal of the banner, to be replaced by a Port Jackson fig sapling, standing between the two vandalised trees. 

Two months later the main branch of the new tree was snapped, which council said was the work of vandals.

Smile, you’re on camera: In response council will spend $125,000 on CCTV filming the foreshore between Raglan Street and The Tram Shed bus stop at Balmoral Beach. The banner will also be reinstalled.

Thumbnail: Mosman Council

October 4 will mark the last day Crows Nest locals can enjoy a schooner at the Stoned Crow, before its current owners are booted out. 

What happened: Yesterday, iconic Crows Nest watering hole the Stoned Crow announced it would be shutting its doors within a month. Owner Arik Shifroni told the Lorikeet the venue would not be reopening elsewhere.

Terminated: According to Shifroni, the decision came down to the landlord not renewing the venue’s lease. 

“The lease is finished, it's as simple as that”, he said. 

Back in the day: While known today as a family friendly pub and bistro, through the 70s and 80s, the venue had a much different reputation under the ownership of Warwick Short. 

The Stoned Crow advertisement, circa 1981. Image: Stanton Library

Shifroni took over the bar in 2011. He said the large open window facing Willoughby Road drew him to the location, at a time he figured the area was “up and coming”. 

It is unknown at this stage what will become of 39 Willoughby Road after the publicans move out.

⏱️ The 135th edition of our newsletter is a five-minute read.

Morning all,

First of all, thank you all for your responses to the last newsletter!

We put together a story with some of them, breaking down the current barriers Australia faces to the roll out of balcony solar. You can read the full piece below.

Could North Shore apartments get balcony solar like Germany or the UK?

While there are multiple hurdles to legalisation, experts say the technology could take off in Australia with the right framework.

🗞️ Now, into the rest of the news…

HEARD THIS WEEK👂

🌳 What will Cammeray Park look like when the Harbour Tunnel is done?

Bike paths, pickleball, native Australian gardens: Cammeray locals have received their first glimpse at what a revitalised Cammeray Park will look like.

What happened: As the completion of the Western Harbour Tunnel nears, the NSW Government has released plans for how they will rebuild the adjoining parklands — between the Warringah Freeway and Cammeray Golf Course — it currently occupies for construction. 

Features: Plans published on Wednesday reveal the new park will have numerous sporting features, including:

• A halfcourt for basketball or pickleball

• A five-a-side synthetic football pitch

• An outdoor fitness station

A cyclepath will snake through the park and connect to the larger bike path network. 

Landscape design will prioritise native flora such as red gum, banksia, coastal rosemary and bottlebrush. A full planting list is available in planning documents.

When: Work on the park will begin when construction of the harbour tunnel concludes. The Western Harbour Tunnel is set to open to traffic in 2028. Once open, North Sydney Council will manage the park.

The draft plans are currently on public exhibition until September 25. 

Read the full story below.

What will Cammeray Park look like when the Harbour Tunnel is done?

The recreation area will feature a five-a-side synthetic football pitch.

🥖 A contender for best North Shore banh mi?

In our previous story investigating the best North Shore banh mis, we recieved a lot of feedback recommending we check out a small shop in Lane Cove named S’Bread House. We spoke to Irvin, the owner and chef, and judged his banh mi.

Our verdict? Pretty good.

Watch the full video below.

🏠️ Mosman moves to ban “poor-doors” and scrap 15 year limit on affordable housing

Under a new plan put forward by Mosman Council, affordable housing in the LGA will last in perpetuity, be built identical to regular units and will be charged at no more than 30 percent of the tenants income. 

What happened: Last Wednesday, Mosman Council put forward two major policy documents that would dictate future development across the LGA. 

The first was the Mosman Masterplan, proposing a rezoning of land along Military and Spit Road for increased housing.

The second is more complicated, setting out how affordable housing will be provided as part of these developments. So, what would it change?

Topline: In NSW, developers can gain bonuses to the height and size of their projects if they designate 10 percent of their units as “affordable housing”. Mosman’s alternative plan reduces this amount to 2 and 3 percent for different parts of the LGA. 

It also allows developers to make monetary contributions, with which council purchases its own affordable housing stock.

Why: In essence, Mosman’s alternative policy reduces the overall amount of affordable housing provided, but increases the quality of what is provided. This means: 

• Housing remains at discounted “affordable” price in perpetuity, not just for 10 or 15 years

• Housing designated as affordable must be identical to market-rate housing (in response to developments where the entrance to affordable units is kept separate to market-rate units, dubbed a “poor-door”).

• The discount on this housing is calculated proportionately to the income of the occupant

While the state plan could provide more overall affordable units, given the high price of rents in Mosman, few of these would realistically be affordable. 

Under Mosman’s new plan, rents on affordable units would be charged at around 30 percent of a tenants income. 

Why is that important? Affordable housing in New South Wales works in two ways. The rent can either be calculated as around 25–30 percent of a tenant's income, or as a 20-25 percent discount to market rate rent. Developer-led affordable housing units typically opt for the latter.

In areas where rent is high — such as Mosman — even if a unit is provided at a 25 percent discount, this can still be unaffordable for low to middle income earners. 

Sue Weatherley, the NSW President of the Planning Institute of Australia, told the Lorikeet the plan was “a reasonable response to the needs of the Mosman community”. 

Will it go ahead? While the Department of Planning does hold the power to reject this scheme, Mosman Council is doing what has been asked of it.

In August, the NSW government published its “Sydney Plan”, setting out how Sydney’s population growth will be managed over the next 20 years. Part of this plan requires all local councils to make their own affordable housing schemes by 2029.

Weatherley said the purpose of these plans is to tailor the state's affordable housing policy to deliver practical results at the local level. Similar plans are in place across Western Sydney and in Ku-ring-gai.

She said it was unlikely Mosman’s plan would disincentivise development more broadly, claiming two to three percent is a “reasonable level [for contributions] to be set at”.

Read the full story here.

Mosman moves to ban “poor-doors” and scrap 15 year limit on affordable housing

The new policy will seek to prioritise quality over quantity.

That’ll be all from me today.

As always, if you have a news tip, an idea for a story or think there’s something I should be covering, hit reply to this email or reach out at huw@northshorelorikeet.com.au.

If you enjoy the Lorikeet and would like to support us, please click on the banner below to chip in. Every dollar counts and helps keep the Lorikeet free for all our readers.

Click the banner to support the Lorikeet

Cheers,

Huw

Under a new plan put forward by Mosman Council, affordable housing in the LGA will last in perpetuity, be built identical to regular units and will be charged at no more than 30 percent of the tenants income. 

What happened: Last Wednesday, Mosman Council put forward two major policy documents that would dictate future development across the LGA. 

The first was the Mosman Masterplan, proposing a rezoning of land along Military and Spit Road for increased housing.

The second is more complicated, setting out how affordable housing will be provided as part of these developments. So, what would it change?

Topline: In NSW, developers can gain bonuses to the height and size of their projects if they designate 10 percent of their units as “affordable housing”. Mosman’s alternative plan reduces this amount to 2 and 3 percent for different parts of the LGA. 

It also allows developers to make monetary contributions, with which council purchases its own affordable housing stock.

Why: In essence, Mosman’s alternative policy reduces the overall amount of affordable housing provided, but increases the quality of what is provided. This means: 

• Housing remains at discounted “affordable” price in perpetuity, not just for 10 or 15 years
  

• Housing designated as affordable must be identical to market-rate housing (in response to developments where the entrance to affordable units is kept separate to market-rate units, dubbed a “poor-door”).
  

• The discount on this housing is calculated proportionately to the income of the occupant

While the state plan could provide more overall affordable units, given the high price of rents in Mosman, few of these would realistically be affordable. 

Under Mosman’s new plan, rents on affordable units would be charged at around 30 percent of a tenants income. 

Why is that important? Affordable housing in New South Wales works in two ways. The rent can either be calculated as around 25–30 percent of a tenant's income, or as a 20-25 percent discount to market rate rent. Developer-led affordable housing units typically opt for the latter.

What is affordable housing, and how does it work?

Developers are able to upsize their buildings if they agree to put accommodation aside for those on average incomes.

In areas where rent is high — such as Mosman — even if a unit is provided at a 25 percent discount, this can still be unaffordable for low to middle income earners. 

Sue Weatherley, the NSW President of the Planning Institute of Australia, told the Lorikeet the plan was “a reasonable response to the needs of the Mosman community”. 

Will it go ahead? While the Department of Planning does hold the power to reject this scheme, Mosman Council is doing what has been asked of it.

In August, the NSW government published its “Sydney Plan”, setting out how Sydney’s population growth will be managed over the next 20 years. Part of this plan requires all local councils to make their own affordable housing schemes by 2029.

Weatherley said the purpose of these plans is to tailor the state's affordable housing policy to deliver practical results at the local level. Similar plans are in place across Western Sydney and in Ku-ring-gai.

She said it was unlikely Mosman’s plan would disincentivise development more broadly, claiming two to three percent is a “reasonable level [for contributions] to be set at”.

Bike paths, pickleball, native Australian gardens: Cammeray locals have received their first glimpse at what a revitalised Cammeray Park will look like.

What happened: As the completion of the Western Harbour Tunnel nears, the NSW Government has released plans for how they will rebuild the adjoining parklands — between the Warringah Freeway and Cammeray Golf Course — it currently occupies for construction. 

Features: Plans published on Wednesday reveal the new park will have numerous sporting features, including:

• A halfcourt for basketball or pickleball
  

• A five-a-side synthetic football pitch
  

• An outdoor fitness station

A cyclepath will snake through the park and connect to the larger bike path network. 

Landscape design will prioritise native flora such as red gum, banksia, coastal rosemary and bottlebrush. A full planting list is available in planning documents.

When: Work on the park will begin when construction of the harbour tunnel concludes. The Western Harbour Tunnel is set to open to traffic in 2028. Once open, North Sydney Council will manage the park.

The draft plans are currently on public exhibition until September 25. 

Watch the full video below.

If you could hang solar panels off your apartment balcony, would you? This is the question we asked our readers this morning. 

Susan, whose North Sydney apartment has a large terrace area, said she’d be “most interested”.

David, a Naremburn local, said his family back in the UK is currently planning to install the technology, and that given the opportunity he’d also plug in panels on his apartment balcony.

How we got here: “Balcony solar panels” went on sale for the first time in the UK last week, a technology that has spread across Europe but is currently illegal in Australia.

Pippa, a Mosman apartment dweller, told the Lorikeet that after living for years in the Netherlands she missed the benefits of solar and could not believe “how expensive utilities are here in Australia”. 

Many more locals said they’d be keen on the technology, particularly those living in flats. Across the North Shore, apartment living is on the rise: in North Sydney, it now surpasses 75 percent. 

So why is the technology currently illegal? And can that change? 

What happened: Balcony solar technology has already taken off across Germany and Spain, where apartment dwellers can buy a system (generally costing around $1000 AUD), hang it off their balcony, and plug it into the wall with no electrician needed. 

While the smaller system won’t be able to power an entire household itself, it can certainly reduce electricity bills, and can potentially pay itself off in three years.

But in Australia — a country leading the world in solar power elsewhere — the technology remains illegal. 

Why? While there are multiple factors restricting use in Australia, experts say none are insurmountable, and some groups are pushing for the government to do more to eliminate them.

Glen Morris, a solar engineer with 35 years in the industry, told the Lorikeet there are four main barriers blocking a similar roll out in Australia. 

• Currently in Australia, if you want to use something that puts power into the wall — rather than taking it out — you need a certified electrician to come connect it for you. Morris says this effectively kills the cost-benefit argument of the tech, claiming the fee would likely cost as much as the system.
  

• Approval also needs to be sought from the Distribution Network Service Provider — the people who own the poles and wires — to connect a system.
  

• Then, in an apartment block, where these systems thrive, permission would need to be granted from the body corporate (and for renters, their landlord) which can be a complicated and bureaucratic process.
  

• Finally, there are currently no safety regulations around the technology. 

According to Morris, getting balcony solar in Australia comes down to the government cutting red tape and setting out clear regulations. 

Dr Nicola Willand, an Associate Professor at RMIT University in property and construction, said the larger affordability crisis of housing would have an impact on uptake for renters. 

She told the Lorikeet that in a housing market like the North Shore, where affordable properties are rare, many tenants won’t contact their landlord for basic fixes, let alone asking about the installation of solar panels. 

She said if we wanted to help renters access solar, we would need to see broad changes to landlord tenant law — as occurred in Germany — to put more power in the hands of tenants. 

• This could mean landlords and body corporates would need reasonable grounds to stop a tenant from installing a PV system.

Government rebates have so far been successful in boosting residential solar uptake, but the benefits of solar haven’t been shared across all Australians. 

While more than a third of NSW homes have a rooftop system, for apartments that drops to around three percent. The next step for the government is bridging that gap. 

Thumbnail: Yuma Solar via Unsplash

⏱️ The 134th edition of our newsletter is a five-minute read.

Morning all,

Before we jump into the news this week, I want to give you the chance to contribute to our next story. Over in the UK last week, we saw a major shift for local energy usage: “balcony solar panels” went on sale for the first time.

The tech has taken off across Germany and Spain, where apartment dwellers can buy a system (generally costing around $1000 AUD) and plug it into the wall with minimal tech support needed.

My question to you is: is that something you would do?

While the North Shore is of course known for its many freestanding homes, nowadays there are as many enjoying apartment living. We know from previous reporting it can be a bit of a bureaucratic nightmare to get solar on apartments.

If you could pop down to Bunnings and pick up a relatively low-cost, low-maintenance solar system, would you? Yes or no, we’d be keen to hear your opinion. Just reply to this email.

🪨 The Flat Rock Mystery

I’ve been meaning to put together a story on this topic for a while now. If you live around Willoughby, you may recall those blue and yellow signs along stormwater drains telling you about Flat Rock Creek.

Because of them, I’ve always known where Flat Rock Creek is, and walked along it many times.

But I’ve never been sure where the said “flat rock” is.

I assumed it’s namesake was the long, flat rock at the bottom of the valley, near Tunks Park. This, it turns out, is incorrect. So what is the real “flat rock”?

Watch our full history of the creek and it’s name below.

🗞️ Now, into the rest of the news…

HEARD THIS WEEK👂

🏉 Ryde Mayor delays TG Millner Field development with yet another attempt at heritage listing

Going against the advice of heritage consultants, Ryde Mayor Trenton Brown will again seek heritage protection for TG Millner Field, claiming a previous report did not “encapsulate the full criteria of heritage” for the park he grew up playing footy on. 

But six years on, the report’s author says the facts haven’t changed.

What happened: Plans to convert the former home of Eastwood Rugby Club into an 132 home mini-suburb have been pushed back six months by Ryde Council, which has placed an interim heritage order on the field. 

Heritage, heritage: The heritage listing of the field was investigated by Ryde Council in 2019. After engaging independent heritage consultants, a report was returned to council advising against any heritage listing. 

What he said: When asked about this, Mayor Brown claimed the report was “not sufficient” and failed to consider the site’s rarity. When informed the report did in fact state “the field is not rare”, he said he’d beg to differ.

Chery Kemp, one of the heritage experts who wrote the report, says it still holds up. 

“Even at the time I got the feeling that the community wanted a different answer than the one I gave them”, she told the Lorikeet. “But the heritage process is well established”.

The report describes the site as a “typical suburban sports field developed in the 1960s”.

“[It] has no aesthetic or research significance. [It] has little historical significance”.

How we got here: In 2021, North Ryde RSL Club, the owners of the North Ryde field were keen to repurpose their land. They claimed maintenance costs had become prohibitive. 

Over time, a plan emerged to redevelop the site into low-rise housing. 

Mayor Brown has railed against the plan, claiming the field is an essential part of Ryde’s “sporting and recreational fabric”. 

He said it was important to preserve the field in order to maintain green open space in Ryde.

On Wednesday, Brown and five other councillors successfully delayed development by placing a six-month interim heritage order on the site. When asked about the cost of this, Brown said it “won't be excessive”.

What is that: Interim heritage orders are put in place when a site with potential heritage value (but no official listing) is under threat. They are lodged by local councils, and create a period of up to 12 months where no work can be done on a site while it is assessed.

• Interim heritage orders are also in place on Bydown Street, Neutral Bay and Beaconsfield Road, Chatswood.

Will it work? The interim order gives no guarantee the field will be saved, only that it will be assessed for heritage value. If none can be found, work will go on.

The decision also risks attracting the ire of NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully, who has previously warned local councils that “new heritage listings must not be used to avoid delivering new homes”. 

Kemp said that while she can understand the significance of the field to the community, heritage cannot be fabricated to prevent development. 

Woods: Eastwood Rugby Club is currently playing their final season with the field as their homeground and face Sydney University in the preliminary finals this Saturday. After that, they plan to move to a new homeground, proposed to be built at Fred Caterson Reserve, Castle Hill. 

• This development has received significant community backlash for its clearing of native trees and impact on local wildlife. 

Ryde Mayor delays TG Millner Field development with yet another attempt at heritage listing

A report ordered by council in 2019 found the field held “little historical significance”.

🚸 Will the state government save Kelly’s Place?

A lifeline has emerged for imperilled Crows Nest childcare centre Kelly’s Place, after NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully announced the state was considering a plan to save the iconic centre. 

What happened: For 38 years, Kelly’s Place has operated in Crows Nest as a not-for-profit childcare centre. In that time, they have been provided a council property rent-free, given the cost-savings are passed on directly to local parents. 

• As the centre operates on a not-for-profit, community model, the governing body of the centre is a committee made up of both parents and carers.

Time’s up: North Sydney Council now wants the land back in order to expand Hume Street Park. Plans for this project have been in motion since 2012. 

• In February, council told the childcare centre they would need to be out by the end of the year.

Hands tied: While the decision drew strong criticism from both the centre and local member for Willoughby Tim James, there was little either could do: the land belongs to council, and James is currently in opposition. 

A new hope: But last week in a budget estimates session, NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully revealed the state government had plans to retain the centre.

While the land and property belongs to North Sydney Council, the redevelopment of the park — including its design — will be paid for and managed by the state. Scully said that in response to community feedback, his department would propose two designs: “one that includes a childcare centre and one that doesn't”. 

He also claimed there has been “good engagement with the parents” and thanked Tim James for the “hot tip that this might be an issue”. 

What now: The director of the childcare centre, Katie Newton was sceptical of the announcement. She said she’d need to see concrete plans before any celebrations. 

“There's been a lot of talk but now we need some action”, she told the Lorikeet. “We need to see the concept plans.” 

Read the full story here, or watch our video explainer below.

⛴️ Sydney ferry workers to strike over wage increase

A quick transport update for this Wednesday.

Ferry services running between the North Shore and the city will come to a halt today, as the Maritime Union of Australia announces they will strike against their employer TransDev. 

What happened: Ferry workers who are members of the Maritime Union are currently seeking a wage increase of 5 percent from their employer Transdev, a French multinational corporation that operates Sydney’s ferries, light rails and Eastern Suburbs bus routes.

Today, workers will go on strike from 9am until 2pm. From 2pm onwards, services will resume with Opal readers switched off. 

What they said: Deputy Branch Secretary Paul Garrett claimed the action was to ensure wages for ferry workers kept up with inflation and the rising cost of living.

“The community should not have to rely on a privately owned and operated multinational company like Transdev to decide whether the local workers who operate Sydney’s iconic ferries deserve a decent wage”, he said. 

Comment has been sought from Transdev.

Sydney ferry workers to strike over wage increase

Services will pause from 9am to 2pm.

That’ll be all from me today.

As always, if you have a news tip, an idea for a story or think there’s something I should be covering, hit reply to this email or reach out at huw@northshorelorikeet.com.au.

If you enjoy the Lorikeet and would like to support us, please click on the banner below to chip in. Every dollar counts and helps keep the Lorikeet free for all our readers.

Click the banner to support the Lorikeet

Cheers,

Huw

At 9am this morning, a truck crashed in Turramurra along Kissing Point Road, seriously damaging a power pole. Imagery of the crash shows the truck was carrying a large pool. 

Kissing Point Road is currently closed between the Commenara Parkway and Monteith Street for repair works. 

According to the NSW Transport Management Centre, two bus routes are currently affected — the 572 and 571 — and are diverting to miss nine stops. 

Ausgrid is handling repairs of the power pole, and told the Lorikeet it expected work to conclude at 7:30pm.

Thumbnail credit: Eliana Johnston

Ferry services running between the North Shore and the city will come to a halt tomorrow, as the Maritime Union of Australia announces they will strike against their employer TransDev. 

What happened: Ferry workers who are members of the Maritime Union are currently seeking a wage increase of 5 percent from their employer Transdev, a French multinational corporation that operates Sydney’s ferries, light rails and Eastern Suburbs bus routes.

Tomorrow, workers will go on strike from 9am until 2pm. From 2pm onwards, services will resume with Opal readers switched off. 

What they said: Deputy Branch Secretary Paul Garrett claimed the action was to ensure wages for ferry workers kept up with inflation and the rising cost of living.

“The community should not have to rely on a privately owned and operated multinational company like Transdev to decide whether the local workers who operate Sydney’s iconic ferries deserve a decent wage”, he said. 

Comment has been sought from Transdev.

Watch the full video below.

A lifeline has emerged for imperilled Crows Nest childcare centre Kelly’s Place, after NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully announced the state was considering a plan to save the iconic centre. 

What happened: For 38 years, Kelly’s Place has operated in Crows Nest as a not-for-profit childcare centre. In that time, they have been provided a council property rent-free, given the cost-savings are passed on directly to local parents. 

Future uncertain for iconic Crows Nest childcare centre Kelly’s Place

The centre stands in between North Sydney Council and millions in state grant funding.

• As the centre operates on a not-for-profit, community model, the governing body of the centre is a committee made up of both parents and carers.

Time’s up: North Sydney Council now wants the land back in order to expand Hume Street Park. Plans for this project have been in motion since 2012. 

• In February, council told the childcare centre they would need to be out by the end of the year.

Iconic Kelly’s Place Children’s Centre given the boot by North Sydney Council

“There's so much institutional knowledge in this place ... I don't think that can be replaced.”

Hands tied: While the decision drew strong criticism from both the centre and local member for Willoughby Tim James, there was little either could do: the land belongs to council, and James is currently in opposition. 

A new hope: But last week in a budget estimates session, NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully revealed the state government had plans to retain the centre.

While the land and property belongs to North Sydney Council, the redevelopment of the park — including its design — will be paid for and managed by the state. Scully said that in response to community feedback, his department would propose two designs: “one that includes a childcare centre and one that doesn't”. 

He also claimed there has been “good engagement with the parents” and thanked Tim James for the “hot tip that this might be an issue”. 

What now: The director of the childcare centre, Katie Newton was sceptical of the announcement. She said she’d need to see concrete plans before any celebrations. 

“There's been a lot of talk but now we need some action”, she told the Lorikeet. “We need to see the concept plans.” 

North Sydney Council were contacted for comment but did not reply before the deadline.

Going against the advice of heritage consultants, Ryde Mayor Trenton Brown will again seek heritage protection for TG Millner Field, claiming a previous report did not “encapsulate the full criteria of heritage” for the park he grew up playing footy on. 

But six years on, the report’s author says the facts haven’t changed.

What happened: Plans to convert the former home of Eastwood Rugby Club into an 132 home mini-suburb have been pushed back six months by Ryde Council, which has placed an interim heritage order on the field. 

Heritage, heritage: The heritage listing of the field was investigated by Ryde Council in 2019. After engaging independent heritage consultants, a report was returned to council advising against any heritage listing. 

What he said: When asked about this, Mayor Brown claimed the report was “not sufficient” and failed to consider the site’s rarity. When informed the report did in fact state “the field is not rare”, he said he’d beg to differ.

Chery Kemp, one of the heritage experts who wrote the report, says it still holds up. 

“Even at the time I got the feeling that the community wanted a different answer than the one I gave them”, she told the Lorikeet. “But the heritage process is well established”.

The report describes the site as a “typical suburban sports field developed in the 1960s”.

“[It] has no aesthetic or research significance. [It] has little historical significance”.

How we got here: In 2021, North Ryde RSL Club, the owners of the North Ryde field were keen to repurpose their land. They claimed maintenance costs had become prohibitive. 

Over time, a plan emerged to redevelop the site into low-rise housing. 

Mayor Brown has railed against the plan, claiming the field is an essential part of Ryde’s “sporting and recreational fabric”. 

He said it was important to preserve the field in order to maintain green open space in Ryde.

On Wednesday, Brown and five other councillors successfully delayed development by placing a six-month interim heritage order on the site. When asked about the cost of this, Brown said it “won't be excessive”.

What is that: Interim heritage orders are put in place when a site with potential heritage value (but no official listing) is under threat. They are lodged by local councils, and create a period of up to 12 months where no work can be done on a site while it is assessed.

• Interim heritage orders are also in place on Bydown Street, Neutral Bay and Beaconsfield Road, Chatswood.

Will it work? The interim order gives no guarantee the field will be saved, only that it will be assessed for heritage value. If none can be found, work will go on.

The decision also risks attracting the ire of NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully, who has previously warned local councils that “new heritage listings must not be used to avoid delivering new homes”. 

Kemp said that while she can understand the significance of the field to the community, heritage cannot be fabricated to prevent development. 

Woods: Eastwood Rugby Club is currently playing their final season with the field as their homeground and face Sydney University in the preliminary finals this Saturday. After that, they plan to move to a new homeground, proposed to be built at Fred Caterson Reserve, Castle Hill. 

• This development has received significant community backlash for its clearing of native trees and impact on local wildlife.