Housing development Sydney: Ku-ring-gai Council backs alternative scheme to NSW government's transport-oriented development

Sydney Morning Herald

05-06-2025

Skyscrapers that rise as high as 28 storeys could soon mark the skyline of Sydney's north shore after a council supported a contentious rezoning plan that it says will save the majority of the region from 'over-development'.
After spending more than a year battling a NSW government drive for increased housing density, Ku-ring-gai councillors have unanimously voted to support a counter housing strategy that paves the way for up to 24,500 new homes to be built around Lindfield, Gordon, Killara and Roseville railway stations.
Ku-ring-gai Council has voted on its preferred planning controls that will affect development around Roseville station. Credit: Steven Siewert
The strategy puts forward an alternative to the NSW government's transport-oriented development (TOD) planning scheme, which came into effect in May last year and has already earmarked 25 large, state-significant development proposals within the region's tree-lined streets.
But the release of the council's own strategy has triggered fierce resistance from some residents and community groups due to the scale of density it proposes and concerns that town centres, including Lindfield, are being 'sacrificed' to meet housing targets.
Despite the opposition, Ku-ring-gai Mayor Christine Kay said the council's alternative scheme would 'protect the area's heritage and environment' by focusing density near existing town centres.
Under the alternative strategy – supported by councillors at a meeting on Thursday night – buildings as tall as 28 storeys would be permitted around Gordon station; 18 storeys would be supported around Lindfield station; and buildings up to eight storeys could get the green light around Roseville and Killara stations.
Roseville, Gordon, Killara and Lindfield have all been rezoned as part of the NSW government's TOD program. Credit: Nick Moir
Modelling by the council predicts its plans would create about 1569 more homes than the TOD scheme, which sets a blanket planning rule of six-storey buildings within a 400-metre radius of railway stations.
Councillor Indu Balachandran – speaking at Thursday's meeting – said the counter-proposal would help preserve Ku-ring-gai's existing character and heritage, and that the government's strategy had 'failed to cut the mustard'.