Lane Cove Council Meeting March Meeting 2026

The Lane Cove Council March Meeting will be held on Thursday, 19th March 2026.

Residents can write to councillors about any agenda item or issue. If you use the email address – [email protected], your email will go to all councillors.

The public forum provides an opportunity to address only. It is not a forum for debate or response from Councillors.

Mayoral Minute

Mayoral Minute – Clean Up Australia Day activities across Lane Cove Recommendation

This Mayoral Minute is to acknowledge the efforts of local volunteers who participated in the recent Clean Up Australia Day activities across Lane Cove.

More than 100 volunteers were involved in local activities to mark Clean Up Australia Day activities in Lane Cove on Sunday 1 March 2026.

It is recommended that Council formally acknowledge and congratulate them.

Notices of Motion

Notice of Motion – Criminalisation of the burning of the Australian National Flag Recommendation  

Councillors Bennison and Taylor have tabled a notice of motion asking for Council to write to the Premier of New South Wales, the Hon. Chris Minns MP, requesting that the NSW Government introduce legislation to make the deliberate burning or desecration of the Australian national flag a criminal offence in New South Wales.

The notice has been tabled in light of the upcoming ANZAC Day services.

The motion does not identify any incidents of flag burning in the Lane Cove LGA.

Notice of Motion – Review of Council Revenue Managed by Third Parties Recommendation 

Councillor Kennedy has tabled a notice of motion about revenue managed where third parties are acting on behalf of Council.

The motion notes:

“During consideration of the 2025/2026 budget, a request was made for income managed by third parties to be itemised separately to ensure that there was some oversight of this income stream. However, this consideration only covered the external reporting to the elected Council.  One such arrangement is the management of advertising panels located in Market Square by the Lane Cove Business Chamber where income received from leasing advertising space is remitted back to Council.

Despite changes to reporting, there still remains an opportunity to increase oversight of externally managed revenue as it presents risks including underpayment or delayed payment to Council, perceived or actual conflicts of interest, reputational risk and weaknesses in financial controls.

Strengthening transparency and oversight protects Council, staff, partner organisations and the community. It ensures confidence in Council’s financial stewardship and supports the integrity of the budget process, particularly in the current financial climate.

This motion seeks to ensure that Council applies consistent governance standards to all revenue streams where public funds are involved and to review whether such long-standing arrangements with third parties are still warranted or needed.”

Notice of Motion – Urgent Change of Building Manager – Lane Cove Market Square Recommendation

Councillors Bennison and Taylor have tabled a notice of motion calling for the building managers to be replaced.  This will not fix the numerous issues at Lane Cove Market Square.

In the Cove has undertaken an extensive review of the legal documents relating to the centre (which are on the public record) and sought comment from the Region Group and Woolworths Limited.

Read our article here.

Notice of Motion – Plaza Infrastructure Maintenance Recommendation    

Councillors Bennison and Taylor have tabled a notice of motion asking for Council officers to meet with plaza tenants over concerns regarding the ongoing maintenance of Lane Cove Council’s infrastructure within the Plaza and to provide reports to Councillors

Their motion notes that recent incidents have highlighted significant issues, including:

• Lighting failures in alfresco areas occupied by tenants, leaving customers to dine in the dark.
• Flooding during storms, where water flows down cavities housing electrical wiring and, in some cases, directly onto diners’ tables in alfresco areas. Tenants have resorted to using buckets to capture water, making some seating areas unsuitable for dining during these periods.

In both cases, tenants have been forced to engage their own contractors to address these issues, including repairing electrical faults or manually clearing roof areas to allow stormwater to drain correctly.

These issues are not isolated and occur numerous times throughout the year.

Noting that Councillors receive regular maintenance reports regarding ongoing issues with the Market Square complex, this motion requests that a similar report be prepared for the Plaza. This report should outline the issues identified to Council by tenants together with a plan or maintenance program addressing each item, including estimated costs and timeframes for resolution.

Notice of Motion – Improving walking and cycling infrastructure in Lane Cove Recommendation    

Councillors Flood and Bryla have tabled a notice of motion asking Lane Cove Council to improve the design of streets so they work better for people walking and cycling, especially in Lane Cove village.

One of the action items they are asking for is recognising that separated cycleways are the safest option for cyclists and pedestrians.

When ITC was researching our article on the new blue lines that have been appearing on footpaths throughout Lane Cove, we spoke to experts who said that the only safe way was separated cycleways.  Read our article here.

Notice of Motion – Habitat Log Salvage Program Recommendation

Councillors Bennison and Taylor have tabled a notice of motion asking council to explore the feasibility of repurposing sections of fallen or removed trees into habitat logs for distribution to residents.

The notice of motion includes the following:

“This week, another large branch from a gum tree fell onto Burns Bay Road in Lane Cove. Similar incidents have occurred in recent years, highlighting the ongoing management challenges associated with large gum trees in urban areas, including the removal of limbs and, in some cases, entire trees for safety reasons.

At the same time, these fallen limbs represent a potential opportunity to support local urban wildlife.”

Councillors are being asked to vote on the following:

• Investigate whether hollow or partially hollow tree sections from fallen or removed trees could be salvaged during tree maintenance.
• Assess whether these logs could be reused as habitat structures for urban wildlife, particularly in residential streets not near bushland, and to support the Backyard Habitat Program.
• Report back within three months on:
  • how practical the program would be
  • resources and processes required
  • estimated costs
  • potential demand from residents
  • environmental, fire safety, liability, or other issues
  • whether it could be integrated into the existing Backyard Habitat Program.

Notice of Motion – The Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios – Sustaining our arts provision in Lane Cove. Recommendation  

Councillors Bryla and Little have tabled a notice of motion asking councillors to
provide short-term financial assistance to Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios to stabilise operations, enable a structured organisational reset, and support the development of a sustainable operating model that recognises the Gallery’s importance and community value to Lane Cove.

The motion notes:

“Overall, the Gallery is struggling to maintain financial viability under its current funding model, despite playing a central role in building cultural capital, fostering collaboration, celebrating local identity and diversity, and creating opportunities for community connection and wellbeing through arts participation in Lane Cove.

It has been identified by the Board of the Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios that it is facing significant financial and operational pressure that threatens its ongoing viability. Additional annual operational funding has been identified as necessary in order for the Gallery to continue to:

• Ensure long-term organisational sustainability and stability
• Maintain and expand accessible arts education and cultural programming
• Strengthen its capacity to serve Lane Cove’s growing and evolving community
• Continue delivering strong alignment with Council’s Community Strategic Plan priorities
• Protect and enhance an important cultural asset for current and future residents”

The notice of motion seeks a one-year financial assistance package of $100,000 for Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios, commencing on 1 July 2026, to stabilise operations and support a structured turnaround plan.

The motion notes:

“The Gallery represents a modest but highly leveraged investment for Council, delivering significant and measurable community benefit, and ensuring that arts and cultural participation remain an accessible and valued part of life in Lane Cove.”

Officer’s Report for Determination

Proposed Planning Agreement at 177-183 Greenwich Road, Greenwich Recommendation

The Lane Cove Council’s officers report notes that Lane Cove Council has received an Offer to enter into a Planning Agreement with Winton Property Group.

The offer involves dedicating C2-zoned waterfront land to Council, removing redundant services and structures from the land, undertaking vegetation management works, and making a monetary contribution to Council to cover the costs of constructing an access track on the land and ongoing maintenance for a 10-year period.

A Planning Proposal has been submitted for the site, seeking to amend the Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009 by altering the maximum building height and maximum floor space ratio development standards.

The report notes:

“Senior staff have considered the Offer and have determined that there is a public benefit arising from the Offer, including both financial benefit to Council and broader community benefit arising from the offer to dedicate foreshore bushland to Council.

A draft Planning Agreement has been prepared and is presented to Council for consideration.

This report recommends the public exhibition of the draft Planning Agreement.”

Although the council is only discussing the Voluntary Planning Agreement, the development application has been controversial.

Lane Cove Council has consulted the community about proposed amendments to the Lane Cove Local Environment Plan (LEP) for 177-183 Greenwich Road, Greenwich.

The site-specific amendments will involve:

• Maintaining the existing split zoning of R4 High Density Residential and C2 Environmental Conservation zone,
• Increase in the height of buildings from 12 metres to RL 48.85 metres, and
• Increase the floor space ratio from 0.8:1 to 1.68:1.

The Greenwich Community Association is concerned that this is an overdevelopment of the site, and in their latest newsletter, they noted the following:

“The facts you need to know are as follows:

• The site covers 4 existing house lots located between home unit blocks at 171 Greenwich Rd and Landenburg Place, and is located opposite the Viva (previously Shell) oil tank farm.
• The site is zoned high density residential.
• The developer proposes 29 dwellings which is more than twice the density allowed by the current zoning and a height fronting Greenwich Rd which is 3 stories higher than allowed by the current high density zoning.

There is no reason why Council should approve this overdevelopment as it fails to meet any of the grounds specified for justifying changing Council’s Local Environment Plan.
There are numerous reasons why Council should not approve this developer’s request – including existing congestion, safety, traffic, overshadowing, bulk and setting a precedent for the area.”

Further information on this development plus links to planning documents are here

 Office of Local Government – Joint Organisations Recommendation    

The Hon Ron Hoenig MP, Minister for Local Government, has written to the Mayor and General Manager regarding a refresh of the Joint Organisations (JO) framework

The letter offered metropolitan councils the opportunity to create or join a JO. Minister Hoenig said that he is seeking a lasting, council-driven solution to regional collaboration. The Minister recognises that the “JO model is not delivering for all councils” and acknowledges that Regional Organisations of Councils (ROCs) can be effective when voluntarily led by civic leaders in a region.

In 1986, local councils across Northern Sydney, including Lane Cove Council recognised the importance of establishing a unified regional voice to advocate on key issues and foster collaborative action for the benefit of the community. This shared commitment led to the formation of the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC).

The Lane Cove Council officers have recommended that Lane Cove Council not join this new organisation, as NSROC is working well.

National General Assembly – Australian Local Government Association (23 – 25 June 2026) Recommendation    

The ALGA National General Assembly is being held 23-25 June 2026 in Canberra.  The officer’s report notes that this assembly is an invaluable opportunity for Councillors to learn and build relationships as well as provide input to ALGA priorities.

Five Lane Cove Councillors attended in 2025, and their feedback was positive.

Due to early bird pricing and limited accommodation, Councillors are being asked to determine attendance at the 2026 NGA at this Council meeting.

Response to Notice of Motion – Proposed participation in the Local Government NSW Domestic Violence Program Recommendation    

This is a follow-up report to a Council Resolution regarding the development and implementation of a Lane Cove Council Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Strategy, including consideration of training requirements, potential partnerships with Local Government NSW (LGNSW), and preparation of a Domestic, family and sexual violence (DFV) resource for the community.

The Lane Cove Council officer’s review found that the NSW Government has introduced Pathways to Prevention, the state’s first dedicated domestic, family and sexual violence primary prevention strategy.

Local Government NSW is partnering with the NSW Government Pathways to Prevention to support councils through prevention networks, training and practical tools.

Council already contributes to DFV awareness and support through partnerships, grants and community initiatives.

It was recommended that, as an initial step, Council could participate in LGNSW training designed to build organisational capability through councillors and staff and that

Council funds training for all interested Councillors, relevant senior staff and managers required to implement a Lane Cove Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Strategy.

It is also recommended that provision has been made in the next financial year’s operational budget to produce a Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Strategy Resource Publication for the Lane Cove community in both online and printed formats.

Inclusive Communities Grant – Extended Program (Round 2) Applications Recommendation   
Last year, Councillor Katie Little proposed a notice of motion asking councillors to support a community grant to allow local businesses to apply for up to $5,000 for Lane Cove hospitality venues to engage professional drag performers in ways that complement their establishments during Pride Month and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival.

Councillor Little noted:

“Why should Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs have all the fun? This motion proposes a one-off community grant program for Lane Cove hospitality venues to add sequins and sparkle with a professional drag entertainer – during Pride Month (June) and/or the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival period (13 February – 1 March 2026).”

Drag bingo and bowls? A café with a little cabaret? A Bollywood lip-syncing extravaganza, or maybe an ice cream server dishing up double scoops with double entendres

Far from frivolous, this motion aims to boost local business and align with Council’s Social Inclusion Strategy.”

“Drag queens aren’t just glitter and sequins — they’re brave beacons of diversity and radical self-expression.

If passed, this motion will not only celebrate Lane Cove’s commitment to inclusion and diversity but also boost the local economy, strengthen community bonds, and remind everyone — whether in sequins or sneakers — that Lane Cove is the place to visit where everyone belongs.

Drag is an internationally recognised art form that combines theatre, fashion, music and humour. Above all, drag thrives on community participation and is the most fabulous fun way to send a clear message: everyone is welcome here.”

In the December 2025 Council meeting, the Council resolved that an Inclusive Communities Pilot Grant Program has been established and applicant eligibility should be expanded to include all Lane Cove businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

Between Friday, 30 January and Friday, 27 February, Lane Cove Council sought applications for grant funding for an event.  No applications were received during the notice period. However, one application was received after the notice period closed (5 March 2026) and is recommended for support.  This would be a grant of $700.00

 Lane Cove North Shops – Further studies Recommendation    

Lane Cove North residents have been advocating for local shops so they don’t have to get in their car and drive to Lane Cove to visit the doctor, the chemist, get a haircut, or visit a Pilates studio.

Shops in this area have been discussed numerous times. In October 2021, Lane Cove Council discussed a notice of motion recommending that Lane Cove Council write to landowners in the Lane Cove North area who own land zoned R4 and have not yet lodged a Development Application, asking whether they have any interest in developing a neighbourhood centre concept.

This notice of motion was defeated.

Lane Cove North residents are either in the Lane Cove Council area or the Willoughby City Council area.

In November last year, the council asked Lane Cove Council staff to prepare a report about the possibility of developing neighbourhood shops in the Lane Cove North area.

Staff have written a report which sets out:

• what work would be needed
• where shops are currently allowed
• what incentives might encourage developers to build shops
• how much the required studies could cost.

Read our article here which sets out in detail what will be discussed at the council meeting.

Draft submission to NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Data Centres in NSW Recommendation

Response to Notice of Motion – Strengthening Accountability and Oversight of Strata Managing Agents Recommendation 

In November 2021, Lane Cove Council was asked to review the  NSW Department of Trading Review of Strata Management and the legislative response.   The review has found that

• The Strata Schemes Management Act 2025 (NSW) has generally responded to the Department of Fair-Trading Review of Strata Management.
•  The new laws impose Strata Managing agents with significant increased obligations.
• Building Managers are now required to adhere to significant new obligations and restrictions on management agreement provisions.
• Developers will have increased accountability in relation to the provision of critical information at completion.
• The reforms do not appear to allow individual owners in a strata scheme to make an application to NCAT.

Local Planning Panel Expert Planning Member Recommendation    

Lane Cove Council has received the resignation of Ms Clare Swan as an expert member from the Lane Cove Local Planning Panel (LCLPP).

Councillors are being asked to appoint Mr Brian Kirk as an independent expert member on the LCLPP.

 Local Transport Forum – February 2026 Recommendation    

River Road/Northwood Road Intersection Upgrade

The suggested improved safety plan is below

Fleming Street parking options

The Traffic Fourm recommended to

• Retain existing parking arrangement on Fleming Street and Northwood Road (up to Upper Cliff Road);
•  No Parking restriction (approximately 3.5 metres) to be installed adjacent to the driveway near No. 18 Fleming Street and Pendray Close to improve vehicle manoeuvrability.
• Monitor parking 6 months after the Galuwa Recreational Centre from opening date of centre

Revised Scope for Lane Cove North Speed Reduction Proposal – Local Transport Forum – Out of Cycle Report Recommendation   

Lane Cove Council has been implementing Speed reductions in Lane Cove North, so it is basically a 40 km/h area.

The Lane Cove Traffic Forum has agreed on the following changes:

• Approve the speed hump on Mindarie Street, approximately 20 metres from its intersection with Mowbray Road
• Approve the installation of a centreline and parking lane on Karilla Avenue between Kurri Street and the cul-de-sac
• Approve the revised plans included in AT-1, with a signage and line marking plan for Lane Cove North included in AT-2
• Note the pedestrian and bike crossings removed from the scope

Council Snapshot February 2026 Recommendation   

Lane Cove Council publishes a monthly snapshot, which sets out what has been happening over the month, from development applications, parking fines, waste and landfill reduction reports, and reports on upcoming footpath maintenance.