Councillor Sam Ngai | Public figure

Councillor Sam Ngai

Phone: +61 436 655 543

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25.01.2022 An update on what’s happening at Council in response to COVID-19. The Crisis Management Team meets daily with other councils to share ideas on pandemic response, so you can know that what you see here at Ku-ring-gai (e.g. playground closures, support for some local charities) is effectively the same ‘best practice’ as what they’re doing elsewhere across NSW. More information about the Council’s latest response can be found here. http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au//Important_informati...Continue reading

25.01.2022 Many of us know someone whose job has already been impacted by the virus. The Sydney Morning Herald has two articles about: 1) self-isolation, the potential extent of job losses (over 2 million out of work), and the impact that it will have on mental health and suicide rates; and 2) advice (as at 23 March) on what to do if you or someone you know is out of work.... I hope these articles equip you to support your loved ones. Job loss is a very traumatic experience, I lost my job twice in the last downturn (sub-prime, then GFC). It triggered an identity crisis but fortunately I came out stronger. https://www.smh.com.au//worst-since-1932-two-million-aussi https://www.smh.com.au//what-to-do-if-you-ve-lost-your-job

24.01.2022 I'd like to congratulate Ku-ring-gai Council's Sustainability Team for winning a Local Government NSW RH Dougherty Award for excellence in communication. The judges were impressed by council's Get Ready Ku-ring-gai Bushfire Awareness Campaign, and in particular the 3D bushfire simulator that shows residents how a combination of factors such as soil types, fuel loads, topography, and wind affect the spread of bushfires and the potential impact on homes. For more information about the winners, visit https://www.lgnsw.org.au///2020_LG_Week_Awards_winners.pdf

23.01.2022 Ku-ring-gai's website has information on ways in which you can commemorate ANZAC Day tomorrow (Saturday). http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/Th/Events_activities/ANZAC_events

23.01.2022 https://www.change.org/council-COVID19-response On Tuesday 17 March, I moved an urgent motion without notice for Council to deploy non-business critical staff to proactively fight against COVID-19. Our elderly are vulnerable, we are going to face a mental health crisis, and it is not fair to put the burden on charities to do all the work when Ku-ring-gai Council has the talent and resources to coordinate an effort. The motion was defeated by the majority of councillors and th...e next Council meeting won't be until 28 April 2020. We need Council to call an emergency meeting ASAP. Please sign the petition below and share the link with your friends. Together, we can save lives and make the community a better place.

22.01.2022 I'd like to thank one of our local residents for sharing this idea. If you live in an apartment or operate a client-facing business, please consider displaying these multi-lingual posters in prominent locations. We can all do our part. https://www.health.nsw.gov.au//coronavirus-resources-cald.

21.01.2022 Hi Everyone. I’ve been experiencing a weird phenomenon in the last 48 hours where a number of residents who have closely monitored the situation and watched Tuesday night’s council webcast have thanked me for representing their concerns, whereas others who have not watched the 5 hour webcast but have read the mayor’s subsequent news release have taken it at face value and have been messaging me to understand why the Mayor says I have voted against ratep...Continue reading

21.01.2022 A fantastic initiative, library staff and Council rangers delivering books to your door. For once our residents are happy to see our rangers, and our rangers are pleased that their interactions with residents have been less confrontational.

20.01.2022 Support our local artists by visiting this virtual exhibition. Gallery is based in Roseville.

20.01.2022 Check out this virtual exhibition with works from some of our local artists.

19.01.2022 For those with young children I’d encourage you to Like the Ku-ring-gai Library Facebook page. They are currently holding online storytime sessions for our young ones, and my kids have enjoyed watching Jo and Michelle read stories either Live or at a later time that suits. The current schedule is:... Rock a Bye (Babies) - Mondays 11:15-11:45am Itsy Bitsy Babies (Babies) - Fridays 11:00-11:30am Rock n Rhyme (15 months to 3 years) - Mondays 10:15-10:45am Young and the Restless (15 months to 3 years) - Fridays 10:00-10:30am Stories and a Sandwich (3 to 6 years) - Tuesdays 12:00-12:20pm Rock n Tales (3 to 6 years) - Wednesdays 10:30-11:00am

18.01.2022 ’ . The state government encourages us to wear masks in high-risk areas such as public transport , supermarkets , restaurants , pubs and places of worship . While it’s not mandatory, it is recommended and will help reduce the chance of transmission .... Please remember to also practice other social distancing measures . By the way, does anyone have tips on how to encourage kids to keep theirs on?

18.01.2022 We had our yesterday and it was admittedly a lot of fun. Things went reasonably smoothly, although I embarassingly spoke on mute twice. Many other NSW Councillors have celebrated this moment by sharing a screenshot of their meeting, but unfortuantely Ku-ring-gai's Code of Meeting Practice prohibits me from doing this common practice ... Key decisions included: An update on our council's - including a $100,000 community grants program A proposed update to our (Net Zero by 2040 or earlier, 100% Renewable by 2030 or earlier) such as the Lindfield Village Hub and the Marian Street Theatre If you want to see the livestream for yourself, visit: http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au//Meet/Council_Meeting_livestream

16.01.2022 ’ ’ Our church will be holding Christmas Services these next few days in Roseville, Castle Cove and online. If you’re interested in coming along, let me know and I hope to see you there. We will of course be following all of NSW Health’s guidelines on social distancing, singing with masks on, etc. And we will monitor the situation with Northern Beaches which appears to be spreading.

15.01.2022 This playground has been a wonderful space for young children and it is due for an upgrade. As a local, you now have the opportunity to say what you want to see happening here, link below. (Personally I'm actually ok with it as it is but wish the playground boundaries were bigger with more equipment. For bigger kids we also have Plesant Avenue Reserve behind the shops [due for upgrade in a few years] and Little Soldiers Memorial Park on Tryon Ro...ad.) http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au///Dukes_Green_playground_upgrade p.s. This photo was taken two years ago.

15.01.2022 Limit of 10 visitors per household and a reintroduction of the 4sqm rule until 23rd Dec. I know it’s a tough time for families, but we should also show our thanks to those on the front lines and those involved with contact tracing.

14.01.2022 ’ . The state government encourages us to wear masks in high-risk areas such as public transport , supermarkets , restaurants , pubs and places of worship . While it’s not mandatory, it is recommended and will help reduce the chance of transmission .... Please remember to also practice other social distancing measures . By the way, does anyone have tips on how to encourage kids to keep theirs on?

14.01.2022 : . As some of you know I've been fighting since February 2018 for Council to provide a webcast of our council meetings, and for the webcast to be retained on Council's website for more than one month (which is the current practice). My reasons were that while the minutes of each Council meeting do show which way Councillors vote, they do not retain other essential information such as the ...why Councillors voted the way they did, and the / of the public debate prior to each vote. I haven't always had majority councillor support on this but fortunately with some gentle prodding from the State Government (calling for a minimum retention of 12 months as best practice), the councillors have now supported my proposal to retain webcasts at Ku-ring-gai for a minimum of four years. If you support this idea (or disagree), please click on the link below and make a submission to the proposed change to Section 5.21 of Council's Code of Meeting Practice. The public exhibition closes on 9 November 2020. http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au//Have_m/Code_of_Meeting_Practice

13.01.2022 During this time I'd encourage anyone who is still fit and healthy to consider donating blood. Each blood donation can go towards saving up to 3 lives, however the Red Cross doesn't accept donations from anyone who has recently been to affected countries, recently been in contact with confirmed cases, or who has had coronavirus themselves within the last three months. Given these restrictions plus the spread of the virus, I suspect that we may have an even greater shor...tage than usual of available blood supplies in the coming months. It will be more difficult to secure blood for those in hospitals in need. Our nearest donation centre is in Chatswood. If you have any questions about the blood donation process, feel free to ask as I've done it about a dozen times. More information can also be found on the Red Cross Donate Blood website or call 13 14 95. https://www.donateblood.com.au/

12.01.2022 As Year 12 students receive their HSC results tomorrow, it's important to remember that this one number doesn't control the rest of your life. There are other ways to get where you need to go, and a rewarding career doesn't necessarily have to come from attending university either. I'm happy to meet up and chat if you want someone to listen to you or to kick ideas around. https://www.smh.com.au//when-i-found-out-my-hsc-result-i-f

12.01.2022 - This playground in Roseville/Lindfield has received a significant upgrade. Previously a sad little plot of land with two swings and a seesaw, it now has a brand new slide, accessible swings, cubby house, turning wheel, voice pipes, lady bug, balancing beam, and safety fencing. I’m looking forward to see it open on Monday 21st in time for school holidays.

11.01.2022 : ? Closely linked to the hotly contested Housing Strategy is whether any changes need to be made in Ku-ring-gai to support our local shops and business areas. A recent study showed that there is a significant undersupply of retail opportunities at current population levels....Continue reading

10.01.2022 ’ --’ , , . The Mayor’s 5 wanted Council staff to make drastic changes to the ~600 page housing strategy THEN immediately lodge it with the Department of Planning PRIOR to allowing residents and councillors an opportunity to review and confirm that all changes had correctly been made. The other group of 5 bel...Continue reading

09.01.2022 Sorry everyone, I’ve been out of action for a while because our family has been sick (confirmed to not be COVID-19, but whatever it was it was still nasty). The great news though is that we have our own COVID testing clinic here in Roseville and they can generally give you the test results within 24 hours. It’s also free, If you have any symptoms whatsoever, please isolate yourselves and book a test. http://www.rosecentre.com.au/north-shore-respiratory-clini/

09.01.2022 For those with young children I’d encourage you to Like the Ku-ring-gai Library Facebook page. They are currently holding online storytime sessions for our young ones, and my kids have enjoyed watching Jo and Michelle read stories either Live or at a later time that suits. The current schedule is:... Rock a Bye (Babies) - Mondays 11:15-11:45am Itsy Bitsy Babies (Babies) - Fridays 11:00-11:30am Rock n Rhyme (15 months to 3 years) - Mondays 10:15-10:45am Young and the Restless (15 months to 3 years) - Fridays 10:00-10:30am Stories and a Sandwich (3 to 6 years) - Tuesdays 12:00-12:20pm Rock n Tales (3 to 6 years) - Wednesdays 10:30-11:00am

09.01.2022 Spring Flowers at Roseville Station. Come check them out and support our local businesses.

09.01.2022 Ku-ring-gai's draft Climate Change Policy and Action Plan aim to achieve: 50% emissions reduction by 2030 or earlier 100% emissions reduction (net zero emissions) by 2040 or earlier 100% renewable energy by 2030 (but aiming for 2025 if possible) 100% reduction in fleet emissions by 2040 or earlier... More information is available in these two documents: https://eservices.kmc.nsw.gov.au//OMC_28042020_AGN_AT_Atta https://eservices.kmc.nsw.gov.au//OMC_28042020_AGN_AT_Atta There are two ways in which you can contribute to the process. 1) If you would like to make a presentation before the councillors in a virtual public forum, you can make your submission via this link by Monday 20 April 5pm. http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au//Register_submission_to_Ku-ring- 2) The other approach is to wait for the public exhibition process, where all responses are compiled, considered, and responded to by council staff in the leadup to the final decision. The public exhibition will most likely commence in May. Thanks for your contributions, and I look forward to reading your responses.

08.01.2022 This recently upgraded playground in Gordon is fun for all ages. I’d like to thank council staff for the amazing design.

08.01.2022 If you would like to recognise someone for their contribution to the community, please consider nominating them for Local Citizen of the Year.

06.01.2022 : . As some of you know I've been fighting since February 2018 for Council to provide a webcast of our council meetings, and for the webcast to be retained on Council's website for more than one month (which is the current practice). My reasons were that while the minutes of each Council meeting do show which way Councillors vote, they do not retain other essential information such as the ...why Councillors voted the way they did, and the / of the public debate prior to each vote. I haven't always had majority councillor support on this but fortunately with some gentle prodding from the State Government (calling for a minimum retention of 12 months as best practice), the councillors have now supported my proposal to retain webcasts at Ku-ring-gai for a minimum of four years. If you support this idea (or disagree), please click on the link below and make a submission to the proposed change to Section 5.21 of Council's Code of Meeting Practice. The public exhibition closes on 9 November 2020. http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au//Have_m/Code_of_Meeting_Practice

06.01.2022 A few months ago, residents started a petition seeking for a socially-distanced drive-in movie theatre at St Ives Showground and I asked council to explore the possibility. This is now happening with a range of movies showing this October. I’d like to thank the residents and council staff for helping this become a reality. What is your favourite movie from this list? I’m looking forward to Tenet, though Edward Scissorhands and Pulp Fiction are classics and I suspect my da...ughters will want me to take them to the Frozen Singalong (help!!!) https://www.sunsetcinema.com.au/ku-ring-gai/

06.01.2022 Ku-ring-gai Council is offering free webinars for small business owners to improve their effectiveness and operate in the current environment. Some topics include staying relevant, cashflow management, building brand, negotiation skills and finding the right people.... To find out more visit Council’s webpage. http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au//Small_Business_Month_-_impact_w

06.01.2022 Councillor Kelly does a great job of explaining his perspective on what happened at the council meeting in September, and the reasons why we sought to put the draft housing strategy on hold for a month.

06.01.2022 -- ? --' - , , ? Hi Everyone. At the moment all 33 councils in Sydney are going through the process of reviewing the housing and infrastructure needs of residents from now til 2036. Early feedback on the process has been that some of the older residents would like to downsize but stay in Ku-ring-gai while some of the younger residents and paren...Continue reading

05.01.2022 This playground has been a wonderful space for young children and it is due for an upgrade. As a local, you now have the opportunity to say what you want to see happening here, link below. (Personally I'm actually ok with it as it is but wish the playground boundaries were bigger with more equipment. For bigger kids we also have Plesant Avenue Reserve behind the shops [due for upgrade in a few years] and Little Soldiers Memorial Park on Tryon Ro...ad.) http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au///Dukes_Green_playground_upgrade p.s. This photo was taken two years ago.

03.01.2022 Some relaxing of the rules from Friday. Please be sensible and also use the app.

03.01.2022 Hi Everyone. I’ve been experiencing a weird phenomenon in the last 48 hours where a number of residents who have closely monitored the situation and watched Tuesday night’s council webcast have thanked me for representing their concerns, whereas others who have not watched the 5 hour webcast but have read the mayor’s subsequent news release have taken it at face value and have been messaging me to understand why the Mayor says I have voted against ratep...Continue reading

02.01.2022 Our most significant decision at the December Council meeting was to place an Interim Heritage Order on this property at North Turramurra, designed by the internationally recognised Australian architect Harry Seidler. Seidler was famous (or infamous) for a number of Sydney landmarks including Australia Square, the MLC Centre, the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre and Blues Point Tower.... As one of his earliest works, Hutter House is an example of 1950’s post-war international style, and this one displays a bi-nuclear design where living and bedroom quarters are separated by an entrance courtyard. The interim heritage order runs for six months, allowing heritage experts to undertake further research to determine whether the site is worthy of permanent heritage listing. On this occasion in December it was fortunate that council staff properly informed councillors of this property prior to the council meeting so that we had the opportunity to make an informed decision on the night. There was another occasion in September where councillors were asked to make a similar decision with no notice and no report (even though staff had access to the information for over a week). As a councillor charged with making well informed decisions, I simply could not support the slapping on of an interim heritage order without having the information placed before me and with adequate time to consider its merits, so that is why back in September I had proposed that this separate matter be deferred for a few days for councillors to receive and consider the information. The residents of Ku-ring-gai should expect all decisions to be well informed, and sometimes decisions like this can wait a few days.

02.01.2022 I’d like to encourage everyone to consider installing the COVIDSafe app. I initially had concerns because I thought Australia would go down the path of Singapore and UK (both screwed up) but from what I can gather this app doesn’t track location data and only relies on Bluetooth. Yes we also have to share our name, postcode and age range but Facebook knows all of that plus more. There are some flaws such as the requirement to manually open the app every 24 hours or so, but Ap...ple and Google are working on a solution in the coming weeks and it appears that the Federal Government may be going on board. I think that the government’s communications on this project could have been smoother as well but hey, at least we have something to work with. Similarly if you are in close quarters with an infected person for 10 minutes but then you walk away, the app won’t register it as an exposure... the threshold is minimum of 15 minutes. The app is by no means foolproof, so I wouldn’t place 100% confidence in the data, but it forms one of many controls on managing the risks associated with COVID-19.

01.01.2022 Ku-ring-gai Council is offering free webinars for small business owners to improve their effectiveness and operate in the current environment. Some topics include staying relevant, cashflow management, building brand, negotiation skills and finding the right people.... To find out more visit Council’s webpage. http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au//Small_Business_Month_-_impact_w

01.01.2022 : ? Closely linked to the hotly contested Housing Strategy is whether any changes need to be made in Ku-ring-gai to support our local shops and business areas. A recent study showed that there is a significant undersupply of retail opportunities at current population levels....Continue reading