State Member, Alister Henskens SC, has welcomed the decision made by the Department of Planning and Environment to reject Ku-ring-gai Council’s proposal to reclassify and sell the Culworth Avenue car park at Killara currently owned by the Council.

The Department was of the opinion that the provision of a dedicated parking facility would better serve the needs of the community than a multi-storey residential development. That is a view that Mr Henskens has expressed since the Council first declared its intentions concerning the car park.

“This is an early Christmas present for the Ku-ring-gai community,”  Mr Henskens said

“I frequently receive feedback from the community about the difficulty of finding parking at railway stations in our area.

“The NSW Government has heard the community on this issue and has acted to support it.

“Earlier this year, I asked the Planning Minister whether his Department could thoroughly investigate the merits of selling off public car parking near railway stations and whether there was sufficient justification in Council’s request.

“I am delighted that the NSW Government has been able to preserve the Killara car park in its entirety as valuable commuter parking.

“I would like to thank James Watson and the CARPARK Group for the many hours of community advocacy they have undertaken on the issue of the Culworth Avenue car park.”