Ku-ring-gai Council has revealed a 20 year vision for the area in its freshly revised Community Strategic Plan.
The draft plan, Our Community – Our Future, outlines the Council’s long-term goals under six themes: community, people and culture; natural environment; places, spaces and infrastructure; access, traffic and transport; local economy and employment; and leadership and governance.
The revised plan is the product of extensive community consultation over the last four years, including seven major surveys and five summits held for each of the wards in February this year.
So what’s in store for Ku-ring-gai?
Community, people and culture
In 2011, 114, 700 people called Ku-ring-gai home. That number is projected to increase to 134, 000 people by 2036. Interestingly, Ku-ring-gai has both a growing youth population (46 per cent of local households made up of couples with children) and an ageing population compared with Greater Sydney.
Residents want:
[list style=”square”][list_item]To address the growing isolation of groups such as the elderly and new residents from different cultures[/list_item][list_item]Services that cater to a changing community profile – including more young families, more elderly people, more people living on their own and more people from different cultural backgrounds[/list_item][list_item]To promote community interaction and cultural activities[/list_item][list_item]To improve safety and combat anti-social behaviour e.g. the St Ives skate park[/list_item][/list]
Proposals in the draft Operational Program include:
[list style=”square”][list_item]Delivering quality services for young families, including immunisation, long day care, school holiday programs[/list_item][list_item]Implementing a Youth Week program and an annual Seniors Festival[/list_item][list_item]Developing, delivering and promoting events at the St Ives Showground and Wildflower Gardens[/list_item][list_item]Supporting and resourcing initiatives like Neighbourhood Watch and safety expos[/list_item][/list]
Places, spaces and infrastructure
Ku-ring-gai’s sporting grounds, parks and public gardens make up less than 14 per cent of the area’s open space. Many of the council buildings and facilities and shopping areas are in need of upgrading.
Residents want:
[list style=”square”][list_item]To highlight the importance of the village green to any redevelopment of St Ives[/list_item][list_item]To maintain the village characteristics of local shopping centres and to encourage cafes, outdoor dining, small-scale supermarkets and outdoor facilities[/list_item][list_item]Safe parks and facilities for children[/list_item][list_item]Initiatives to remove rubbish, graffiti and improve public toilet facilities[/list_item][/list]
Proposals in the draft Operational Program include:
[list style=”square”][list_item]Establishing targets for the removal of graffiti and a clean-up for streets and local shopping centres[/list_item][list_item]Beginning to implement a Master Plan for the St Ives Centre and surrounding precincts[/list_item][list_item]Delivering a public toilet and amenity upgrade program[/list_item][list_item]Undertaking a review of the Council’s Outdoor Dining and Goods on Footpath Policy[/list_item][/list]
Access, Traffic and Transport
Almost three quarters of Ku-ring-gai’s professional population leave the area each day for work. The proposed Council’s transport initiatives are to be in line with NSW’s 2021 priorities for the Northern Region, including improvements to the Metro Bus service, continued work on the North West rail link and the completion of the M2 motorway widening project.
Residents want:
[list style=”square”][list_item]Traffic congestion reduced around major intersections on the Pacific Highway e.g. Gordon Centre and the Turramurra railway bridges[/list_item][list_item]More parking at local shopping centres and Gordon station and more long-stay commuter parking[/list_item][list_item]Opportunities to connect local facilities and residents with footpaths and bike paths[/list_item][/list]
Proposals in the draft Operational Program include:
[list style=”square”][list_item]Progressively implementing a Ku-ring-gai Bike Plan[/list_item][list_item]Investigating the provision of additional commuter parking at key railway stations[/list_item][list_item]Investigating opportunities for community transport e.g. introducing a high frequency shuttle bus service from St Ives, Pymble and Gordon[/list_item][/list]
