Councillors have voted to sell off land abutting Burnt Bridge Creek, a decision deferred from April’s Council meeting so neighbours could be consulted. However, ultimately councillors approved an option not favoured by those neighbours.
The residents had wanted a large creek buffer zone that extended along the street front to be kept as public land to protect the creek and native animals. However, councillors approved a midway point with a larger creek buffer zone (Council recommended a smaller creek buffer zone), but no street front and ultimately, to not save a large gum tree.
In April’s meeting, Council proposed two options after the first attempt to sell the block of land at 2 Bangaroo Street, North Balgowlah, deemed as an ‘underutilised’ asset, in 2022 was suspended after community outcry to save the bushland along Burnt Bridge Creek. Option one saw a 1,536m2 creek buffer zone and option two saw a slightly bigger creek buffer zone at 1,965m2. Both options would provide three lots for developers.
Councillors voted to defer the decision to the May Council meeting once neighbouring residents had been consulted.
Manly Councillor, Sarah Grattan, from Your Northern Beaches Independent Team (YNBIT) presented councillors with a third option after meeting with the community.
“After the on-site community consultation, listening to the community, they felt the street front portion, up to where the Council stormwater area is, should be retained as public land for green space, stormwater,” she explained at this week’s Council meeting.
“There’s a big, significant tree, a beautiful, enormous ancient gum tree there, so Option 3 includes that area to be retained as public land and reduces the amount of land for residential purposes. So instead of three lots, it would take it down to two lots.”
This newly presented option would mean Council would not be required to move a stormwater drainage pipe (which would cost $250,000), however, would significantly reduce the land available to sell and therefore reduce the sale price.
Council is required to identify and sell off $10 million worth of ‘underutilised’ assets as part of its commitment to IPART (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal) – the same scheme which saw Council rates increase.
“With the land available in option 3, that still means up to four residences can be built if dual occupancies were approved,” Cr Grattan said.
Option 3 was lost with only Cr Ethan Hrnjak, Cr Kristyn Glanville, Cr Joeline Hackman and Cr Grattan voting for the motion.
Option 2, with the larger creek buffer zone, was then put to the councillors and ultimately approved.
“I’d like to strongly advocate for us adopting this option,” Curl Curl Councillor, Kristyn Glanville for the Greens said.
“There were a lot of really specific concerns voiced [from the community consultation] about the vulnerability of the riparian corridor [the creek buffer zone].
“I think each and every one of us ran for council because we care about our local environment. We know consistently that the community cares about the environment, and I think that this is one of those where the rubber hits the road. You are investing for the long term to forgo short-term financial gain. We don’t need to exploit every meter of nature in the LGA.
“The strongest way that we can ensure the riparian area has a generous buffer is by retaining it in public ownership.”
Curl Curl Councillor, Nicholas Beaugeard, for Your Northern Beaches Independent Team, was against Option 2. He emphasised councillors had committed to the iPART $10 million property rationalisation savings over five years, and therefore, supported the staff recommendation of Option 1, with a smaller creek buffer zone and maximum land value to be the preferred option.
Narrabeen Councillor Vincent De Luca, an independent, was also against Option 2, but added he was against all the options.
“I’ll be voting against all options because I sincerely believe that there is better, more profitable, and more in the community’s interests land that this Council could sell,” he said.
“This [block of land] is a minuscule drop in the ocean, and yet, it has the greatest environmental impact.”
He pointed out the options for Council to enter into public-private partnerships with community centres and car parks, as well as, large blocks of land that would generate more profit.
Option 2 was ultimately carried with Cr Giltinan, Cr Korzy, Cr Hrnjak, Cr Williams, Cr Glanville, Cr Hackman, Cr Grattan and Mayor Heins.
The original options
The block of land is 4,547m2 and includes native vegetation that functions as part of the riparian corridor (a critical buffer between land and the creek to protect water quality, manage stormwater flooding and provide habitats for fauna and flora). The block of land currently has a home on it, which is leased.
Option one would see 3,011m2 land sold off to developers for low-density residential dwellings (one to two-storey homes, or dual occupancies), with 1,536m2 kept as public reserve (or a creek buffer zone).
Option two is to have an even bigger creek buffer zone at 1,965m2 with developers only getting access to 2,582m2 of land to build on.
While no price has been disclosed, the land (which includes the creek buffer zone) was last valued at $3,050,000. Prior to the sale, Council will need to spend $250,000 to pay for the cost of moving a stormwater drainage pipe. This cost will be recouped by the proceeds from the sale.
The history
In 2022, Good for Manly Councillor Candy Bingham called for the suspension of Council’s sale of the block of land.
There was fierce community outcry against Council’s lack of public consultation prior to putting out an Expression of Interest for the land and for not providing councillors the space to debate the proposed sale.
But now, as Council needs the cash, Council has amended both its process and what’s up for sale (Option 1 was most similar to what was proposed in 2022).
IPART refresher: Why is council selling off its land?
In 2025, Council sought and was granted a 25 per cent rate rise (you can dive deep into that here).
As part of the rate rise, Council has a formal agreement with IPART (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal) to build a dedicated financial reserve to $10 million within the next five years to reduce pressure on rates, provide alternative funding sources for priority community outcomes and ensure money generated from property assets is reinvested into the community rather than absorbed into general revenue.
In short, the funds generated from selling off under-utilised assets will be used for community infrastructure, environmental acquisitions, and commercial development projects.
In February this year, councillors moved to sell off the former Pittwater Council warehouse in Warriewood despite outcry from Pittwater Council loyalists (you can read that in detail here).
Read our earlier coverage:
