ordinary meeting of council to be held on tuesday, 26 april 2005 at ...

Ku-ring-gai Council
Draft Management Plan 2005-2009
A PROFILE OF KU--RING--GAI
Ku-ring-gai covers an area <strong>of</strong> 84 square kilometres with five wards and nine
suburbs.
The area features dramatic contrasts in <strong>to</strong>pography and a diversity <strong>of</strong> plant
communities and wildlife habitats. Significant portions <strong>of</strong> the urban bushland have
<strong>be</strong>en identified as having high conservation status.
Ku-ring-gai is located approximately 16 kilometres from Sydney and is on average
152 metres above sea level.
The Pacific Highway forms the central spine <strong>of</strong> the area running along a northwest/south-east
ridge. Other ridges run <strong>of</strong>f this central spine.
The Ku-ring-gai area drains <strong>to</strong> Middle Harbour in the east, <strong>to</strong> the Lane Cove River
in the west and <strong>to</strong> Spring Gully Creek and Cowan Creek in the north.
Ku-ring-gai has 1,100 ha bushland, 75 km fire trails, 177 ha parkland,
17 ha gardens, and 650 km roads.
Ku-ring-gai's land use is dominated by housing and open space. Of the residential
area, 95% is occupied by low-density housing, much <strong>of</strong> which is bordered by
national parks. Business and other usage account for only 5% <strong>of</strong> <strong>to</strong>tal land use.
The estimated resident population in June 2004 was 108,830. Between 1999 and
2004 there was an average annual growth rate <strong>of</strong> 0.5%.
Across Ku-ring-gai, 64% <strong>of</strong> the population is Australian born, with 36% born
overseas. The overseas-born proportion was less than Sydney's rate (39%). Overall,
the Australian-born population ranges from 74% <strong>of</strong> Warrawee and 70% <strong>of</strong> West
Pymble, <strong>to</strong> 46% <strong>of</strong> East Killara and 56% <strong>of</strong> St Ives. The most common foreign
birthplaces in Ku-ring-gai are United Kingdom (6.7% <strong>of</strong> the population), South
Africa (3.7%), Hong Kong (2.7%), New Zealand (2.2%) and China (1.5%).
Council maintains a variety <strong>of</strong> community facilities, including:
1 Art centre 45 Netball courts
4 Libraries 71 All weather tennis courts
3 Senior's facilities 2 Public golf courses
2 Youth centres 52 Playing fields
6 Community halls 96 Playgrounds
18 Children's Services buildings 374 Parks and reserves
1 Meals on Wheels kitchen 1 Showground
12 Community multi-use buildings 1 Skateboard facility
1 Community bus 1 Pool complex
Page 3