Message from the Mayor

What is it that you love about Ku-ring-gai? Is it the beautiful bushland setting, our caring and compassionate community, or our rich history and heritage? 

Next week I will be opening a special exhibition at the Ku-ring-gai Art Centre celebrating everything we love about Ku-ring-gai. Our Place explores and celebrates the unique character of our local area – its rich natural landscapes, diverse communities and layered histories.  The exhibition runs until late May, so plenty of time to check it out.

We’ve got some great news for local kids – the brand-new playground at Comenarra reserve in South Turramurra is now open. The newly upgraded play space includes a skytower with slide, swings, talk tubes, climbing poles, spinner, springers and fitness equipment. So come on down to Comenarra this school holidays for serious fun!

ANZAC Day is soon approaching, a day when we will once again commemorate the bravery, mateship and legacy of the fallen ANZACs. There are five services in Ku-ring-gai, beginning with the Saturday 25 April Dawn Service in Roseville and West Pymble, followed by morning services at Wahroonga, Turramurra and St Ives, and a Sunday Church Service on the 26 April in Gordon. Details can be found on our website.

A quick reminder to all our wonderful volunteers, nominations are open for 2026 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards. If you know someone who deserves to be celebrated, nominate them before Friday 29 May 2026. And if you’re one of our lovely local volunteers and you feel your team should be nominated, contact the Council’s volunteer coordinator.

Have a wonderful weekend, and safe and happy school holidays.

Mayor Christine Kay

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Each year we offer community groups the chance to get their projects off the ground, purchase much-needed equipment or fund arts and cultural activities through the Ku-ring-gai Community Grants program.

This year we are inviting submissions between 3 April and 10 May. Successful applicants will be notified later this year. Find out more and apply at Ku-ring-gai Community Grants Ku-ring-gai

We’re trialling a new form of recycling over at Gordon Library. If you’ve got some spare fridge magnets lying around, drop them off at the special bin at the library.

Magnets will be donated to Ku-ring-gai Art Centre for use in kids' holiday art programs. Please note your donated fridge magnets should be the soft flexible kind.

We have some exciting activities in the lead-up to Easter and other school holiday fun, including Midweek Movies at Gordon Library.

To all those celebrating Easter and Passover next week, I wish you all an enjoyable and peaceful time with family and friends.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mayor Christine Kay

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Yesterday I had the pleasure of presenting the Ku-ring-gai Women’s Leadership and Inspiration Award at our special International Women’s Day celebration.

The Award recognises women who show strong leadership, speak up for others and strive to create a more equal and inclusive society. This year, the Award was presented to Jolyn Karaolis AM, former Headmistres of St Lucy’s School and a powerful social justice advocate in our community.

Local GP and CASS Chairperson, Dr Leng Tan, was presented with Highly Commended, in recognition of her service to the Chinese community, older residents, and women and children. Congratulations to Dr Leng Tan, Jolyn Karaolis and all of this year’s nominees.

I’m pleased to announce that Ku-ring-gai Council’s Multicultural Festival is back again this year, with an amazing program of music, dance, food and market stalls.  The festival will be held at St Ives Showground from 10am to 3pm on Sunday 22 March. You can enjoy music and dance performances, interactive demonstrations and an exciting variety of stalls selling cultural wares and culinary delights from all over the world. Check out the event page for all the details.

Finally, a quick reminder that this Sunday applications open for Council’s Heritage Home Grant program. Owners of heritage properties can apply for funding to undertake conservation works to protect and enhance Ku-ring-gai’s built heritage. You can find out more on our website.

Have a lovely weekend.

Mayor Christine Kay

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Good news for EV drivers in Ku-ring-gai, especially those living in apartments or who may not have easy access to a charge point. We’ve identified the new locations for 21 new kerbside charge points. 

Ku-ring-gai’s EV ownership rates are now triple the state average, so there is certainly demand for new charging infrastructure. The initiative is part of the NSW Government’s EV Kerbside Charging Grants program. Installation and operation of the new kerbside charging ports will be at no cost to Council. The program is fully funded by the charge point operators and the NSW Government. You can find the locations on our website.

International Women’s Day is just around the corner and this year the celebration and awards presentation will be held at St Ives Bowling Club on 12 March. Our guest speakers are author Aminata Conteh-Biger and comedian Alexandra Hudson, with musical entertainment by the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra. The event is free with refreshments provided. Visit our website for more info.

I’m pleased to announce that Council is organising two special evenings in March to bring Phillip Mall in West Pymble to life after dark, with live music, delicious food and late-night trading. It’s all part of our night-time economy action plan to support local businesses and boost our local economy. You can find out more on our website.

Finally, there are two great local events on this Sunday – Sparkling Wahroonga and Clean Up Australia Day. Council is proud to support Sparkling Wahroonga, where you can enjoy gourmet cuisine, artisan produce, cellar door wines, small-batch distillers, craft brews and live music at Wahroonga Park. You can also join me for Clean Up Australia Day and help us mark our 36th year of cleaning up local suburbs. You can register online.

Have a great weekend.

Mayor Christine Kay

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I was delighted to officially open the St Ives Indoor Sports Centre today.

Delivered in collaboration with Schools Infrastructure NSW, the centre is located at St Ives High School. It’s been designed so the community can use it after school hours, during school holidays and at weekends.

Ku-ring-gai Council proudly led and funded the second stage of the sports centre, contributing almost $30 million to bring this fantastic facility to life.

This modern, multipurpose facility will become a major hub for indoor sport and recreation in Ku-ring-gai.

There are four indoor sports courts, a multipurpose room suitable for meetings and group activities, modern amenities and a café. It’s a space the whole community can enjoy, now and into the future.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars – Seniors Week kicks off very soon, with a variety of fabulous events for residents aged 60 years and over. The Seniors Festival is our way of recognising and supporting the wonderful older residents in our community. It’s also a fantastic chance to meet new people, make new connections and try something different. There’s a wide range of events and activities, including dancing, art classes, chess clubs, choir performances, historical tours, health and wellness sessions, gardening workshops, computer skills sessions and excursions. I encourage you to check out the festival program for more details.

Mayor Christine Kay

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On Australia Day I had the pleasure of presenting the Ku-ring-gai Local Citizen of the Year Awards. Congratulations to this year’s Local Citizen of the Year Dean Simes, Young Citizen of the Year Angelina Barnsdall and Environmental Citizen of the Year Jill Green. I was also pleased to present the Mayor’s Award for outstanding contribution to the community to the wonderful Ku-ring-gai SES. You can read more about these amazing individuals on our website.

A new mural has popped up at Roseville Chase Oval, featuring local flora and fauna native to the local waterways.  It’s the first of two artworks to be unveiled as part of this year’s Urban Murals program, which encourages the community to protect and care for our natural environment.

Finally, Lunar New Year is almost upon us, with a range of exciting events planned. The Year of the Horse will be celebrated between 17 February and 2 March, with a range of cultural activities at the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, Gordon Library and the Ku-ring-gai Art Centre, plus the popular Lunar New Year food market at St Ives Village Green. Visit the event page for more info.

Have a great weekend!

Mayor Christine Kay

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Happy New Year everyone! I hope you have had a happy and safe summer so far.

As we kick off the new year, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of a new program to support local artists and creatives. The Stages and Spaces program will open up Council venues for artists and creatives at no or low cost.

It’s all about making it easier to rehearse, create, exhibit and perform while supporting the incredible creative talent right here in Ku-ring-gai. You can find out more on our website.

On Monday 26 January we will welcome 200 people from 32 countries as they take their citizenship pledge at the Australia Day ceremony, and I will have the pleasure of announcing the Ku-ring-gai Local Citizen of the Year Awards. Ku-ring-gai Fitness & Aquatic Centre will also host a pool party on the 26 January, with a BBQ, face painting, inflatables and a poolside DJ. Everyone is welcome and entry is by a gold coin donation, so stop by and make a splash.

Finally, a very happy birthday to St Ives Showground, celebrating 100 years! In 1926, the St Ives Agricultural and Horticultural Association was granted 53 ha of Crown Land in St Ives to establish the Northern Suburbs Showground, now known as St Ives Showground. It held its annual show for the first time at the new grounds on 15 January 1926. Council will mark the centenary with celebrations later this year. Stay tuned for further details.

Have a wonderful week.

Mayor Christine Kay

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