The next Ordinary Council Meeting of Lane Cove Council is this THURSDAY 18th September 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 - 18 September 2025
1 Mayoral Minute - Osborne Park Progress Association - Centenary Celebrations and Commemorative Plaque
This Mayoral Minute acknowledges the centenary of the Osborne Park Progress Association.
2 Tackling the spread of Spanish Moss
A motion to investigate opportunities for increased management of Spanish Moss within Lane Cove, and to advocate for federal recognition of Spanish Moss as a priority weed.
3 Design and construction of River Road crossing to allow safe
pedestrian access from the St Leonards South precinct to the south side of River Road
Council’s Community Strategic Plan includes 2.6 Community Priority
• To prioritise walking, cycling and public transport as alternatives to driving
To achieve the above priority, the Community Strategic Plan includes Strategy 2.6.1
• Facilitate improvements to car, bicycle and pedestrian
Consistent with the above, this motion seeks to ensure that the residents of the St Leonards South Precinct will have safe passage across River Road to facilitate level and easily navigable access to schools, rail links and recreation areas.
4 Development consent conditions and other measures to monitor
dust and noise associated with construction sites and to address congestion caused by worker parking adjacent to construction sites
Council’s Community Strategic Plan includes 3.2 Community Priority – Community Health and Wellbeing
• To enhance the community’s health and wellbeing.
This motion seeks to mitigate the risk to community health and wellbeing from dust and noise from construction sites through the inclusion, in development consent conditions, of requirements to install monitoring devices to measure dust and noise impacts beyond development site boundaries and to report the data derived from this monitoring.
It also seeks to address possible solutions to the parking of construction workers’ vehicles in residential areas adjacent to construction sites. The purpose of this report is to consider the election of a Councillor to the office of Deputy Mayor for a term ending September 2026.
5 Acknowledgement of Council Staff for Lane Cove’s Liveability
Achievements – 2021 to 2025SEP 2025
This motion seeks Council’s support to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of all Council staff in achieving Australia’s highest liveability ranking in 2025 and maintaining top-tier performance since 2021.
6 Reform of Principal Place of Residence Eligibility: Aligning NSW
Land Tax Exemptions with ATO Tax Residency Standards
This motion seeks Council’s support to advocate for urgent reform of the definition of “residency” as it relates to land tax exemptions, including the Principal Place of Residence (PPR) exemption and the application of foreign owner surcharge thresholds. It also proposes that this matter be
submitted as a Motion for consideration at the 2025 Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Annual Conference.
7 Abandoning Net Zero - A Call to the Federal and NSW
Governments to Protect Regional Communities
This motion raises the unintended consequences of net-zero emissions targets and recommends that Council submit a Motion for consideration at the 2025 Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Annual Conference.
8 Electrification to heating of the Lane Cove Aquatic Centre
This motion recommends that further consideration be given to the electrification of the heating of Lane Cove Aquatic Centre and that a workshop occur regarding this matter in December 2025 or February 2026.
9 Ongoing Failure and Unreliability of Vertical Transport at Lane
Cove Market Square
This motion discusses the lifts, escalators, and travelators at Lane Cove Market Square, and recommends that Council engage with the head lessee and facilities manager on outages.
10 Advocacy on the proposed Environmental Planning and
Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025
A motion to write to State representatives and decision makers to advocate for increased community consultation and significant changes to the proposed Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025.
11 General Purpose Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2025
Following completion of the annual external audit, Council’s annual General Purpose Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2025 (financial statements) are presented to Council for adoption and subsequent lodgement with the Office of Local Government by 31 October 2025. It is recommended that Council adopt the financial statements and invite the Audit Office of NSW to attend the next Council meeting in November 2025 to present the Auditor’s Reports.
12 Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee - Four Year Internal Audit Plan - 2025/26 to 2028/29
The purpose of this report is to seek Council adoption of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) four-year Internal Audit Plan for the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2029.
13 Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee Confirmed Minutes - 24 June 2025
The purpose of this report is to provide the confirmed minutes of the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) meeting held on 24 June 2025.
14 Pecuniary Interest Returns 2025
The purpose of this report is to table the Annual Pecuniary Interest Returns of Designated Staff and Councillors as required by the Local Government Act 1993. This report recommends that Council notes the tabling of these returns.
15 Local Transport Forum - 16 September 2025
The Lane Cove Local Transport Forum met in September 2025 and provided recommendations for Council’s consideration. The attached Minutes include a summary of each item, and it is recommended the September 2025 Minutes are adopted for implementation.
The Local Transport Forum recommendations are shown in the Minutes of the meeting, included as AT-3, which address:
1. Traffic Committee Meeting Confirmation of Minutes – 15 July 2025
2. Changes to the Local Traffic Committee – introduction of the Local Transport Forum
3. Proposed truck zone at 22 Birdwood Avenue, Lane Cove
4. Rear of 450 Pacific Highway, Lane Cove North - Proposed ‘no parking’ restriction on Helen Street
5. 670 Mowbray Road West, Lane Cove West - Proposed removal of 15-Minute parking restrictions
6.Wilona Avenue & Eastview Street, Greenwich - proposed no parking restriction
7. Sera Street, Lane Cove – proposed stop control
8. Food and Wine Festival by the River at Tambourine Bay Reserve 2025 - Traffic Management Plan and Traffic Control Plan
9. Location for new VAS signage – Mowbray Road West
10. 138 Burns Bay Road – Driveway issues
11. Physio on Longueville Road – 237 Longueville Road, Lane Cove
12. River Road Shared User Path.
16 Road naming proposal - St Leonards South
The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to commence engagement with the community to gather ideas for the name of a new road that is being constructed between Berry Road and Park Road. The road is being delivered as part of the St Leonards South precinct.
17 2025 Australian Liveability Census Results
Lane Cove Council has achieved first place nationally in the 2025 Australian Liveability Census, a comprehensive independent study conducted by Place Score measuring community wellbeing,
amenity, and satisfaction across Australian local government areas (LGA).
The 2025 achievement reflects Council’s sustained investment in quality infrastructure, environmental sustainability, cultural vitality, and community engagement. The Census result highlights Lane Cove’s reputation as one of Australia’s most desirable and inclusive places to live, underpinned by strong local identity and connectedness.
18 Lane Cove Aquatic Centre Operational Assessment
This report presents the findings of a performance review of the Lane Cove Aquatic Centre operators’ performance against obligations set out in the current lease agreement for the management of the Lane Cove Aquatic Centre.
The purpose of the review was to inform a recent decision to extend the lease with the current operator for a further 5-year term (as allowed under the lease agreement) on the basis that the operator exceeded expectations across key performance areas.
The report is submitted for noting.
19 Civic Centre Concert Grand Piano Hire
This report proposes the introduction of a concert grand piano for hire in the Civic Centre foyer during evenings (5pm to 9pm) and on weekends (8am to 11pm) when the Cove Room is vacant.
The initiative aims to activate an underused space, broaden cultural offerings, and provide equitable access to a high-quality instrument for local teachers, students, hobbyists, and community members.
A fee structure is proposed to ensure affordability and sustainability, with rates set at $40 per hour for commercial hire and $10.00 per hour for community hire.
20 Council Snapshot September 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 September 2025 at AT-1.
Included at AT-2 is Council’s Resolution Tracker showing the progress of Council’s resolutions.