What is NSROC?                                                                                                            

Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) is a voluntary organisation of local government established to provide strong local government leadership; to work co-operatively for the benefit of the Northern Sydney region; and to effectively advocate on agreed regional positions and priorities.

The NSROC councils are committed to the sustainable management of an area which covers nearly 700 square kilometres, and they serve a population of over  half-a-million people. The region is home to a diverse collection of landscapes and communities, ranging from scenic waterways, bush land parks and areas of historical significance through to residential high-rise living and thriving commercial and retail centres.

 Latest News and Recent Publications                                                                                                

RECENT PRESS RELEASES

2 August 2010 - SPORTSGROUND DISCUSSION PAPER RELEASED

NSROC is developing a Regional Sportsground Management Strategy and has released a Discussion Paper seeking community input on how sportsground management and provision can be improved for users and the community generally.

Interested individuals and organisations are invited to make a written submission on the issues raised in the Discussion Paper. For further information and copies of the Discussion Paper click here or contact the NSROC Secretariat on 02 9911 3651 or email lridley@lanecove.nsw.gov.au

14 July 2010 - FRESH THINKING FOR NORTH SHORE COUNCILS

Northern Sydney councils will gather later this month to consider reform initiatives to tackle future growth and councils' capacity across the region.

For further information - click here for Press Release and NSROC Modernisation of Local Government in NSW Discussion Paper and Local Government & Shires Association Modernising Local Government Discussion Paper

7 June 2010 - NORTH SHORE COUNCILS JOIN NORTH WEST RAIL COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN - BUILD IT NOW - North shore councils have joined with the Hills Council's "Build it Now"  Facebook campaign to push for an earlier start on the North West Rail link. The State Government proposes to complete the link by 2024 but this is too late for generations of northern and north west Sydney residents. The Facebook campaign is a modern day petition to gather community support and show the State government its current plan is unacceptable. Press Release  To join the Facebook campaign simply go to www.facebook.com and search the title "Build it Now".

25 May 2010 - NO LINKS, NO FUNDS, NO GENUINE PLAN FOR THE NORTH SHORE- NSROC Councils have made their submission to the State Government's Metropolitan Strategy and Metropolitan Transport Plan which outline Sydney's population growth issues and transport projects. NSROC is critical of the State's approach and the absence of funding and genuine planning compared with the efforts being made by local government.

For further information - click here for Press Release and NSROC Metropolitan Strategy Submission and NSROC Metropolitan Transport Plan Submission.

18 May 2010 - ROOM TO PLAY? REGIONAL SPORTSGROUND STRATEGY FOR NORTHERN SYDNEY - NSROC Councils have agreed to develop a regional sportsground strategy to address the increasing demand on the limited sportsgrounds in the northern Sydney area. A Discussion Paper will be released mid year for public consultation. Click for  Press Release and Background Information.  

11 March 2010 - ENERGY AUSTRALIA DOUBLES STREET LIGHT BILLS FOR COUNCILS click here for Press Release and click here for NSROC-SSROC Submission to NSW Public Lighting Code Review 2010

23 February 2010 - NO PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR NORTH WEST click here

13 February 2010 - INDEPENDENT INQUIRY ENDORSES NORTHERN TRANSPORT NEEDS  click here

13 November 2009 -FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR NORTHERN SYDNEY COUNCILS' TRANSPORT  click here 

29 October 2009 -  NSW COUNCILS CALL FOR NORTHERN SYDNEY TRANSPORT FIX  click here

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

NSROC REGIONAL STATE of ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2008/2009

The environment of the NSROC region is under intense pressure from existing human settlement and the ongoing process of urban consolidation and population growth. In recognition of the fact that many environmental issues need a regional approach, the seven councils that make up NSROC have been produced their fifth regional State of Environment Report.

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This report details the environmental challenges facing the communities of Northern Sydney as well as the management responses from local government. Time series data across a range of environmental indicators is being collected and reported enabling a more sophisticated, informed and collaborative approach from the NSROC councils Click here to view the Report

NSROC is supporting the Independent Transport Inquiry established by the Sydney Morning Herald in August and is calling for Councils around Sydney to support the re-activation of the NorthWest and SouthWest Rail links and the cancellation of the CBD Metro to Rozelle. NSROC Councils will be encouraging their communities to participate in the Inquiry, headed by Mr Ron Christie- for information see www.transportpublicinquiry.com.au

8 October 2009 - NSROC Submission to Inquiry -click here  ******* Vice-President's Speech to Northern Sydney Public Meeting  -28 September 2009- click here  ******    Press Release - 31 August 2009– click here   *** Related - 2008 Submission to NSW Parliament Transport Inquiry   – click here.

RATES REFORM WELCOMED BUT COULD GO FURTHER - September 2009

NSROC welcomed the proposed changes to rate calculations processes proposed by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) in its draft report released in August 2009, but  argues in its September submission that the reforms require some fine tuning.  For information on IPART report go to www.ipart.nsw.gov.au and for the NSROC Submission - Click here

NORTHERN SYDNEY IS “RECOVERY ENGINE” FOR NSW ECONOMY - August 2009

On 6 August, NSROC held its annual Conference.  Speakers included the Shadow Minister for Integovernmental Affairs, Mr Chris Hartcher MP, Mr James Cox the CEO of the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal and Dr Garry Glazebrook, Transport Planner from University of Technology Sydney.   

Councils identified transport infrastructure as a leading regional issue which must be given priority planning and budgeting by the State Government to make sure that the Northern Sydney region maintains its business momentum and drives economic recovery.

For full details of presentations – click here.

For Press Release 6 August 2009 – click here.

For 2009 Regional Showcase – click here.

NSROC Planning Framework
The State Government is currently embarking on a process of planning reform and the development of the Metropolitan Strategy which will guide growth and development in the Sydney region for the next 30 years. NSROC strongly supports both of these processes and is working to ensure that issues of relevance to the NSROC region are incorporated in the planning and legislative outcomes. For the latest information on NSROC’s planning work – click here.

For  NSROC’s Submission on Planning Reforms – click here.

For  NSROC’s Sub-Regional Planning Strategy 2006 - 2031 – click here.

For  NSROC’s Submission on the North Sub Regional Plan  – click here.

For  NSROC’s Submission on the Inner North Sub Regional Plan   – click here.

NSROC Regional Sustainability Plan 2009/2014
The NSROC Region is set to accommodate an extra 130,000 people over the next two decades.  Continuing growth and existing development are putting significant pressures on the valuable environmental assets of the Region, as well as threatening the long term health and liveability of the community.

The Regional Sustainability Plan (RSP) is a first for the NSROC Region and has been developed as part of the Region's response to these pressures.  It is based on current and future proposed projects and policies implemented by the seven NSROC member Councils and draws extensively on the suite of reports prepared by NSROC for the Region over the past few years.The RSP will assist in guiding future sustainability projects as well as identifying specific gaps and opportunities for further collective action.