The next Ordinary Council Meeting of Lane Cove Council is this THURSDAY 20th November at 7.00 pm. It is important to note that the Public Forum is part of the same meeting immediately prior to Council Business. It will be both in person and webcast via ZOOM from the Council Chambers. CLICK HERE for more information.
Confirmation of Minutes
Ordinary Council Meeting - 23 October 2025
1 Petition Requesting Accessible Parking in Sera Street Car Park
Council has received a petition from a patron of Luz All Abilities at 5 Sera Street, Lane Cove
requesting accessible parking as well as timed parking for pick up and drop off spaces in the Sera
Street car park. The petition also calls for pedestrian safety, lighting and signage to be reviewed
around the center.
In accordance with standard procedures, the petition is reported to Council.
2 Installation of Solar Panels on Galuwa Recreation Centre for
maximising clean energy generation
This motion proposes building on that success by investigating the installation of a large-scale
solar PV system on the roof of the Lane Cove Sport and Recreation building (a site with significant,
under-utilised roof space), to support Council’s net-zero targets and potentially enable locally
generated electricity to be distributed within our community.
Unlike previous installations used to offset Council’s own energy consumption, this project, whilst
supporting operations within the building may also contribute to local renewable energy supply and
support grid resilience. By implementing infrastructure such as Virtual Energy Networks, we can
also start to generate electricity for locals who may be unable to generate electricity themselves.
3 Promoting Community Safety and Stronger Sentencing for Violent
Crime
Council notes with concern the recent increase in violent crimes within the Lane Cove Local
Government Area (LGA) and the associated rise in break-ins, assaults, and property offences
across metropolitan Sydney. These incidents have caused considerable anxiety among residents
and business owners and highlight the need for stronger deterrents to protect the community.
Local statistics show a 22.3 per cent rise in break-ins, along with increased reports of stolen
parcels from residential buildings and commercial premises. Nationally, the NRMA 2023 Home
Theft Report found that December is the peak month for home thefts, with claims rising more than
20 per cent above the annual average.
Council also recognises the proactive work of the Mayor, who attends North Shore Police Area
Command (PAC) – Community Safety Precinct Committee meetings, most recently on 18
November 2025, to monitor local crime trends and coordinate safety initiatives.
Council further notes the growing public concern over violent and youth-related crime across New
South Wales and the need for sentencing laws that reflect community expectations of justice. Both
the Queensland and Victorian Governments have introduced or announced legislation adopting an
“Adult Crime – Adult Time” approach, providing for stronger custodial sentencing and clearer
minimum penalties for violent and repeat offenders.
Given the recent violent incidents in Lane Cove and broader trends statewide, New South Wales
must align itself with Queensland and Victoria by enacting comparable legislation that imposes
mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes and removes excessive judicial discretion in
sentencing for serious and repeat offenders.
4 Strengthening Accountability and Oversight of Strata Managing
Agents
The NSW State Government recently introduced a three stage strata reform package to strengthen oversight and disclosure, however they do not create direct legal recourse for lot owners against strata managing agents who fail to carry out delegated duties or comply with owners corporation resolutions. It is proposed that the General Manager prepare a submission to the Minister for Fair Trading outlining Council’s support for the proposed reforms, with specific emphasis on improving accountability, enforcement, and owner protection.
5 Protecting Vulnerable Families from Housing Exploitation in NSW
With the cost of food, rent, and energy continuing to rise, vulnerable families are increasingly being pushed into insecure accommodation, without adequate safeguards. Discrepancies have been identified between the protections offered to boarders and lodgers in comparison to tenants. Council is asked to consider writing a submission to relevant State ministers to align the protections of boarders and lodgers more closely with those of tenants.
6 Drainage Works for Pottery Green
This motion recommends that Council consider the offer made by local sporting clubs to make a
financial contribution to Pottery Green drainage works in 2026/27 pending their grant application
being successful.
7 Galuwa Recreation Centre - Operation and Management of Food, Beverage, and
Events Options
A report on the Selective Request for Tender (RfT) process to Operate and Manage Food,
Beverage, and Events (FB&E) for the Galuwa Recreation Centre was presented to the June 2025
Council Meeting. The RfT was the second stage (following an earlier Expression of Interest
process) of Council’s procurement strategy to contract for the Services and was overseen by
independent Probity Advisor, Noble Shore.
This Report responds to point 4 in Resolution 128 of the June Council Meeting including
consideration of the financial and operational opportunities and risks, in addition to a description of
Council’s procurement strategy to identify a preferred FB&E Service(s) Operator:
Resolution 128
That Council:
1. pursuant to Section 178(1)(b) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021
(Regulations), declines to accept all tender submissions to the Selective Request for
Tender for the Operation and Management for Food, Beverage, and Events at the Lane
Cove Sport and Recreation Centre;
2.pursuant to Section 178(3)(a) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021
(Regulations), postpones the proposal for the contract;
3.eceives a presentation at a Councillor workshop on 11 August 2025 (or earlier, as
appropriate) on options for the operation and management of Food, Beverage, and Events
services at the Lane Cove Sport and Recreation Centre; and
4.receives a report at the 21 August 2025 meeting of Council (or at an extraordinary meeting
of Council before that date) outlining the options explored for operation and management
of the Food, Beverage, and Events services at the Lane Cove Sport and Recreation
Centre together with a recommendation on the preferred option, including the preferred
service operator (if identified).
Since the Council decision in June, staff have presented options for the operation and
management of FB&E services at the Galuwa Recreation Centre (GRC) at 3 Councillor Workshops
held in August, October, and November 2025. During this time, Council issued a Request for
Commercial Arrangements (RfCA) to a short list of 3 FB&E Operators.
8 Annual Community Satisfaction Survey
Each year Council undertakes a Community Satisfaction Survey which aims to understand and
identify the trends in the community’s satisfaction with Council’s performance across various
service delivery areas including planning and development, maintenance of roads and footpaths,
parks and open space, and community services and facilities as well as the community’s level of
satisfaction with Council’s overall performance.
In the 2025 survey, Council achieved an overall satisfaction rating of 88%, with 17% of residents
stating they were very satisfied with Council’s overall performance. In addition to this, of the 20
service delivery areas surveyed, 15 received satisfaction ratings of more than 80%.\
This report includes a summary of the ratings received across the service areas surveyed and
provides high level analysis on the top performing areas and the areas noted for improvement.
It is recommended that the report be received and noted, and the results of the survey be
published on Council’s website.
9 Lane Cove Council Draft Annual Report 2024/25
The purpose of this report is to table the Annual Report 2024/25 as required by the Local
Government Act, 1993. Once adopted, the Annual Report will be sent to the Minister for Local
Government.
10 Presentation of Audited Annual Financial Statements - Year Ended 30 June 2025
Council’s Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2025, together with the
Auditor’s Reports, are presented to Council and the public.
11 Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee - 2024/25 Annual Report
The purpose of this report is to present the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Annual Report
for the year ended 30 June 2025. The Annual Report highlights the role, focus and achievements
of the Committee over the past financial year. It is recommended that Council receive and note the
Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee Annual Report for year ended 30 June 2025.
12 2025/26 Budget - First Quarter Review
The purpose of this report is to present financial performance results for the period ended 30
September 2025 - First Quarter Review 2025/26 (the review).
The review uses new reporting templates issued by the Office of Local Government (OLG) in its
Quarterly Budget Review Statements Guidelines in August 2025. The new Guidelines mandate the
following statements:
• A QBRS Financial Overview providing a one-page snapshot of how Council is performing
at the end of the quarter (new)
• Income and Expenses Budget Review Statement (revised format)
• Capital Budget Review Statement (revised format)
• Cash and Investments Budget Review Statement (revised format)
• Summary of Developer Contributions (new)
• A report from the Responsible Accounting Officer (Council’s Chief Financial Officer)
stating whether they believe Council’s financial position is satisfactory, and if not, what
recommendations should be implemented
In addition to the mandated statements management will continue to provide Council with:
• A Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) at the end of the quarter
• Key Performance Measures at the end of the quarter (noting also that the OLG, whilst
working on a new suite of performance indicators, no longer mandate the disclosure of
key performance indicators in the annual financial statements).
This first quarter review shows variations to both income and expenditure estimates, together with
the rollover and revotes of unexpended 2024/25 budgets for projects and activities continuing in
2025/26 as detailed below:
Income Statement summary:
Taking into consideration the variations from the review, the forecast 2025/26 operating result
before capital grants and contributions has been revised to a deficit of $577K, an improvement of
$84K over the original budget deficit of $661K. The overall operating result is forecast to be a
surplus of $33,752K compared to the original budget surplus of $31,697K.
Program Budget summary:
Capital expenditure has been increased by a net $4,180K to $54,194K.
When transfers to and from Reserves are considered, the net result of the first quarter review is
balanced.
Given the budget review has produced a small program budget surplus of $59K, largely a product
of a windfall in income which may not be repeated across the full year, and it is the first quarter, it
is recommended that the small surplus be transferred funds into the Capital Works Reserve and
not allocated to other projects or programs.
13 Delivery Program and Operational Plan - 2025/26 First Quarter Review
This report outlines the 2025/26 First Quarter progress towards achieving the projects and
activities listed in the adopted 2025/26 Delivery Program and Operational Plan.
14 Tender for the Provision of Legal Services
Council recently called for tenders in accordance with Council’s Tender and Quotation Procedure
from suitably qualified and experienced legal firms to appoint to Council’s Legal Services Panel for
a period of up to five (5) years.
This report provides summarised details of the tender process conducted and recommends that
the tenders submitted by Schmidt-Liermann Pty Ltd, G.N Beattie & J.N Ede & L.G Motta & S.H
Patterson & C Rose, Marsdens Legal and HWL Ebsworth Lawyers be accepted and these firms be
appointed to Council’s Legal Services Panel.
15 Schedule of Ordinary Council Meetings for 2026
The purpose of the report is to propose the Council meeting schedule for 2026.
The below table sets out the proposed 2026 ordinary council meeting schedule:
• Thursday 19 February 2026
• Thursday 19 March 2026
• Thursday 23 April 2026
• Thursday 21 May 2026
• Thursday 18 June 2026
• Thursday 23 July 2026
• Thursday 20 August 2026
• Thursday 24 September 2026
• Thursday 22 October 2026
• Thursday 19 November 2026
• Thursday 10 December 2026
16 Public Exhibition - Draft Children and Families Strategy
The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s endorsement to publicly exhibit the draft Children
and Families Strategy (draft Strategy)
The draft Strategy sets a clear direction for how Council will plan, deliver, partner and advocate for
the wellbeing of children and families. The draft Strategy is a values based decision making tool
and acts as a compass to guide decision making across planning, design, program delivery and
infrastructure investment.
The draft Strategy aligns with national and state-based frameworks and obligations, serving as a
strategic guide to support coordinated decision-making across all areas of Council.
Council has engaged extensively with the community and stakeholders to help inform the draft
Strategy.
The draft Strategy has 6 guiding principles being: (1) Inclusion; (2) Diversity; (3) Sustainable
outcome-focused; (4) Focus area-led design; (5) Communicative, Connected and Coordinated;
and (6) Safety and protection.
The draft Strategy is proposed to be publicly exhibited for 6 weeks.
17 Planning Proposal 45 - 170 Pacific Highway, Greenwich
The Proposal (AT-1) seeks to amend the Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009 (LCLEP) to
allow an Additional Permitted Use of Seniors Housing on the land 170 Pacific Highway, Greenwich,
including the ability to strata subdivide.
The site is zoned E2 Commercial Core under LCLEP. Seniors Housing is prohibited in the E2
Commercial Core zone; however, the State Environmental Planning Policy Housing (Housing
SEPP) permits seniors housing with development consent.
The proponent is seeking to amend the LCLEP to allow seniors housing as a permitted land use to
circumvent a restriction on the subdivision of seniors housing which is prohibited in section 90 of
the Housing SEPP.
In the initial report to the Local Planning Panel, Council staff supported the proposal from a
strategic planning perspective, recognising the potential to broaden housing choice for the ageing
population within the Lane Cove LGA while contributing to housing diversity.
The Local Planning Panel noted that while there is merit in exploring ways to expand housing
choice for seniors, the preferred mechanism for doing so is through a state-led review of the
Housing State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing SEPP), rather than by progressing
individual LEP amendments.
Advice was subsequently sought from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
(DPHI) who confirmed that Section 90 of the Housing SEPP protects the strategic function of the
E2 Commercial Zone, and there are no plans to amend the SEPP in relation to Section 90.
Following consideration of the Panel’s comments and further discussions with DPHI Council
undertook a re-assessment of the proposal to ensure its consistency with the Housing SEPP and
the broader strategic planning framework.
It is evident that even if the LEP were to be amended to include ‘seniors housing’ as a permissible
land use, the subdivision of seniors housing in the E2 zone would still be prohibited under Section
90 of the Housing SEPP. This means that there would be no utility in the LEP amendment, as the
land use is already permitted with consent under the Housing SEPP.
There is also the further consideration of the protection of important commercial land within the
Lane Cove LGA which is close to the St Leonards health precinct and transport. Any LEP
amendment to allow residential land uses would undermine the important and limited employment
land.
It is therefore the recommendation of this report that Council does not support the Planning
Proposal proceeding to a Gateway Determination.
18 Planning Proposal 44 - 126 and 130-134 Pacific Highway, Greenwich
The Planning Proposal (AT-1) seeks to amend the Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009
(LCLEP) to allow an Additional Permitted Use of Seniors Housing on the land 126 and 130-134
Pacific Highway, Greenwich, including the ability to strata subdivide.
The site is zoned E2 Commercial Core under LCLEP. Seniors Housing is prohibited in the E2
Commercial Core zone; however, the State Environmental Planning Policy Housing (Housing
SEPP) permits seniors housing with development consent.
The proponent is seeking to amend the LCLEP to allow seniors housing as a permitted land use to
circumvent a restriction on the subdivision of seniors housing which is prohibited in section 90 of
the Housing SEPP.
In the initial report to the Local Planning Panel, Council staff supported the proposal from a
strategic planning perspective, recognising the potential to broaden housing choice for the ageing
population within the Lane Cove LGA while contributing to housing diversity.
The Local Planning Panel noted that while there is merit in exploring ways to expand housing
choice for seniors, the preferred mechanism for doing so is through a state-led review of the
Housing State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing SEPP), rather than by progressing
individual LEP amendments.
Advice was subsequently sought from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
(DPHI) who confirmed that Section 90 of the Housing SEPP protects the strategic function of the
E2 Commercial Zone, and there are no plans to amend the SEPP in relation to Section 90.
Following consideration of the Panel’s comments and further discussions with DPHI Council
undertook a re-assessment of the proposal to ensure its consistency with the Housing SEPP and
the broader strategic planning framework.
It is evident that even if the LEP were to be amended to include ‘seniors housing’ as a permissible
land use, the subdivision of seniors housing in the E2 zone would still be prohibited under Section
90 of the Housing SEPP. This means that there would be no utility in the LEP amendment, as the
land use is already permitted with consent under the Housing SEPP.
There is also the further consideration of the protection of important commercial land within the
Lane Cove LGA which is close to the St Leonards health precinct and transport. Any LEP
amendment to allow residential land uses would undermine the important and limited employment
land.
It is therefore the recommendation of this report that Council does not support the Planning
Proposal proceeding to a Gateway Determination.
19 Local Environment Plan Review - Update
The purpose of this report is to formally advise Council of the advice that has been received from
the Department of Planning, Housing & Infrastructure (DPHI) in response to the Council led
Planning Proposal seeking changes to the Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan (LEP), known as
the LEP review.
The Planning Proposal has been amended to address the matters identified by DPHI and this
report seeks Council’s support to submit the revised Planning Proposal to DPHI seeking Gateway
Determination.
20 Public Exhibition - Draft Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan
A Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP) is a strategic planning tool that allows councils to
identify and prioritise improvements to the pedestrian network. The aim of a PAMP is to provide a
safe, accessible and connected walking environment for all members of the community, including
children, older adults, and people with mobility or vision impairments.
Council engaged Crossley Transport Planning (CrossleyTP) to review and update its 2018 PAMP,
originally prepared by ptc., to ensure alignment with contemporary best practice, new strategic
directions, and the evolving needs of the Lane Cove community.
The Draft Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan 2025 (Draft PAMP 2025) has now been completed
and is presented for Council’s endorsement to proceed to community consultation.
It is recommended that Council endorse the Draft PAMP 2025 for the purpose of public exhibition
for a period of six (6) weeks.
21 New Years Eve - Traffic Management Plan & Traffic Control Plan
The purpose of this report is to seek approval for road closures and implementation of the Traffic
Management Plan (TMP) and associated Traffic Control Plan (TCP) for the 2025 New Year’s Eve
celebration on the Greenwich Peninsula.
On the day of the event, full road closures are proposed from 6:00pm on Wednesday, 31
December 2025 to 1:00am on Thursday, 01 January 2026 at the following locations.
• George Street at Manns Ave (east of Manns Ave)
• Albert Street; and
• Gother Avenue
The TMP and TCP have been forwarded to the technical members of the Local Transport Forum
and no objections have been raised to the proposed road closures.
22 Council Snapshot October 2025
Attached for the information of Councillors is a review of Council’s recent activities.
This Snapshot report provides a summary of the operations of each Division within Council for
October 2025 at AT-1.
Included at AT-2 is Council’s Resolution Tracker showing the progress of Council’s resolutions.