The next Ordinary Council Meeting of Lane Cove Council is this THURSDAY 24th October at 7.00 pm. It is important to note that the Public Gallery returns as 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
1. Ordinary Council Meeting - 22 August 2024
2. Extraordinary Council Meeting - 10 October 2024
Orders Of The Day
Notices of Motion
2. Notice of Motion - Lane Cove North Neighbourhood Shops
Lane Cove Council recognises that there is a housing crisis to address and will continue to support efforts and work collaboratively with the NSW State Government to increase the supply of new dwellings, particularly affordable and social housing. However, while the construction of new dwellings is a significant part of the solution, increased housing supply must also be balanced with the need for supporting infrastructure and services for existing and future residents.
The rapidly growing population of the Mowbray Precinct in Lane Cove North do not have adequate access to local shops and services, requiring long journeys to other centres to meet their essential daily needs. The precinct is also lacking an identifiable place for the community to meet and socialise outside their homes. This lack of local amenity adds to traffic and demand for parking (both within the area and the Lane Cove village), reduces social interaction, and degrades the liveability of Lane Cove.
A potential site for a neighbourhood centre was identified at 25-29 Mindarie Street in 2021, an appropriate location given its central location within the precinct, its location opposite Mindarie Park, the need to redevelop the aging housing assets on the site, and its ownership by the NSW State Government agency Homes NSW (formerly Land and Housing Corporation). Homes NSW are proposing to redevelop 618-624 Mowbray Road and 25-29 Mindarie Street. The proposal includes 86 apartments, 43 social housing units, 43 affordable housing units, and no commercial spaces.
It is recommended that Council urgently seek to meet with the NSW Housing Minister, Homes NSW, the NSW Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Housing, and Willoughby City Council regarding the need for a neighbourhood centre and seek its inclusion in the proposed redevelopment of 25-29 Mindarie Street Lane Cove North.
3. Notice of Motion - Progression of Expanded Newlands Park Masterplan, including elements such as a Water Play Park
Council in October 2023, and again in November 2023 resolved to partially close Canberra Avenue between River Road at its intersection with Duntroon Avenue to integrate the land into Newlands Park and to develop a Masterplan for the upgrade of Newlands Park and to consider the possible widening of Duntroon Avenue to improve the access for two-way traffic. The closure was not to occur until after 1 November 2025 near completion of the adjacent development. The integration of road space into Newlands Park supported Council’s vision to create a high-amenity urban residential precinct near the existing St Leonards Rail and future Crows Nest Sydney Metro Stations, while providing community infrastructure, public open space and pedestrian networks.
Further to this, the St Leonards South facilities Matrix approved in October 2020 as part of the St Leonards South Landscape Master Plan depicted the required and desirable facilities to be included in a park, such as toilets, multipurpose courts and fitness stations which further enhance amenity and social wellbeing. To include all these elements in Newlands Park would require additional open space.
In the absence of any additional space at the Lane Cove Aquatic Centre, it has been suggested that amongst other things, a modest water play park could also be considered as a desirable facility for inclusion into a Newlands Park Masterplan.
This motion seeks to build upon the community/collaborative processes in the creation of the BCO Masterplan and applying a similar, but improved process and structure, including financial constraints in the progression of a Newlands Park Masterplan.
4. Notice of Motion - Affordable Council Run Childcare
A motion to further investigate the capability of Lane Cove Council to use council owned facilities to provide affordable council run childcare.
5. Notice of Motion - Blackman Park Master Plan
This motion seeks a review of the Blackman Park Masterplan to identify areas within the park for future enhancement to ensure it meets the current and future needs of our community. The review will include a community consultation process, allowing residents and stakeholders to contribute their insights and suggestions.
6. Notice of Motion - Recognition of Lane Cove Swim Club
As the past patron of the Lane Cove Swimming Club (LCSC) it gives me great pleasure to record that Council’s redevelopment of the 50 metre pool and grandstand together with the continued partnership with this vibrant community organisation has achieved national recognition.
The combination of the refreshed Aquatic Centre outdoor facilities (which had over 1,000,000 visits last year) and the club’s inclusive swimming program has resulted in LCSC becoming the 3rd largest club in Australia and achieving national recognition at the recent Swimming Australia awards as the Swimming Australia 2024 Club of the year.
This demonstrates our Council’s model of providing well managed world class recreational facilities when combined with local community-based sporting organisations is second to none!
Our new Mayor now assumes the role of patron, I wish her well in the role.
I look forward to supporting other Council initiatives to have similar positive outcomes for all members of our community.
Officer Reports for Determination
7. Proposed Sale of Drainage Reserve - Morrice Street and Tambourine Bay Road - Final Report
Council considered a report at the November 2023 meeting (AT-1) on the proposed sale of a Drainage Reserve between rear-facing properties on Morrice Street and Tambourine Bay Road. Council resolved that:-
“Council defer consideration of this matter and establish a working group that includes relevant staff, Ward Councillors and affected residents to look at how to move forward with the sale of the land and another report is to be presented to Council once an outcome has been determined by the working party.”
A resident forum was subsequently held on 12 March 2024. This report addresses the matters raised and discussed at the forum, outlines the results of the second round of offers for adjoining owners to purchase and reaffirms the original report recommendation, to proceed with a sale process for adjoining owners.
8. Office of Local Government NSW - Councillor Conduct and Meeting Practices Discussion Paper
The Office of Local Government NSW (OLG) released a Circular to Councils,(24-17) on 05 September 2024 seeking a written submission on their Conduct and Meeting Practices Discussion Paper , (AT-1) by 15 November 2025.
The OLG has concerns that the current Councillor conduct framework fails to provide the transparency and community respect necessary for the Councillor role, with closed Council briefing sessions being used to make decisions out of public view, while debates often devolve into personal attacks instead of fostering respectful, constructive discussions focused on the community's best interests.
The OLG seeks feedback from the local government sector on their discussion paper by 15 November 2024.
9. Traffic Committee - September 2024
Agenda Items were as follows:
1. Confirmation of the Minutes Traffic Committee meeting - 16 July 2024
2. St Michaels School - Relocate existing pedestrian crossing on Longueville Road, north of Alpha Road, Lane Cove
3. River Road West - No Parking opposite William Edward Street
4. Birrahlee Pre-school, Lane Cove - Parking in front of gate to school
5. Tambourine Bay Rd and Coxs Ln, Lane Cove - Light traffic only (No Trucks over 3t)
6. Longueville Road - Austin Street (scrambled intersection), Lane Cove
7. New Year's Eve celebrations 2024 at Manns Point, Greenwich Peninsula - TMP and TCP for the event
8. Regulatory Signposting and Linemarking
9. River Road, Greenwich - Proposed shared user path.
10. Council Nominations for Sydney North Planning Panel
The purpose of this report is to appoint Council expert panel member representatives to the Sydney North Planning Panel.
11. Lane Cove Cenotaph Relocation
At the April 2024 meeting, Council received a notice of motion in relation to the relocation of the Lane Cove Cenotaph.
This report provides options for Council to consider relocation and information on consultation, potential costs, and next steps.
12. General Purpose Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2024
Following completion of the annual external audit, Council’s annual General Purpose Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2024 (financial statements) are presented to Council for adoption and subsequent lodgement with the Office of Local Government by 31 October 2024. It is recommended that Council adopt the financial statements and invite the Audit Office of NSW to attend the next Council meeting in November 2024 to present the Auditor’s Reports.
13. Pecuniary Interest Returns 2024
The purpose of this report is to table the 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.
14. Councillor representation on Council Advisory Committees and External Organisations for 2024-25
Council operates various targeted advisory committees which enable Councillor and community engagement on specific topics on a regular basis. Council also participates in committees facilitated by other organisations that provide forums for Council representatives, local organisations and government agencies, and community members to discuss broader local and regional issues. There are also internal Council committees with Councillor participation.
The purpose of this report is to
· determine Councillor representation on these advisory committees, internal and external committees for the period up to September 2026.
· consider the creation of a new Council advisory committee to address access, inclusion, under-representation and disadvantage, throughout the breadth of the Lane Cove population
· consider changes to the Dog Advisory Committee membership and expand focus
· confirm changes to the Youth Advisory Group and removal of the need for Council endorsement of individual membership
· confirm the next step is to call for expressions of interest (EOI) for community members for the various Council advisory committees.
Officer Reports for Information
15. Council Snapshot August and September 2024
Attached for the information of Councillors is a review of Council’s recent activities.
As there was no Council meeting held in September 2024, this Snapshot report provides a summary of the operations of each Division within Council for August and September 2024 at AT-1.
Included at AT-2 is Council’s Resolution Tracker showing the progress of Council’s resolutions.