The City of Ryde (Council) sought feedback from our community on a planning proposal to change the Ryde Local Environmental Plan 2014 (Ryde LEP) for land at 4 Pittwater Road, Gladesville (Lot 1 DP 816692).

The planning proposal was on exhibition for community comment from Monday 2 September 2024 - Sunday 29 September 2024.

The proposal seeks to reclassify this public land from community land to operational land.

The site is owned by Hunters Hill Council and is currently occupied by Gladesville Occasional Child Care Centre, a not-for-profit community-based childcare centre. The site is next to the Gladesville Library to the east, and a carpark to the north and west.

The aim of the proposal is to enable Hunters Hill Council (the owners) to consider opportunities for the future use of the land, including options for the development or sale of the site.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) issued a Gateway determination in July 2024 for the Planning Proposal to proceed to public exhibition. The results of the public exhibition will be reported to Council for consideration and final endorsement for the planning proposal to proceed to finalisation.

Frequently Asked Questions


Public land is defined in the Local Government Act 1993 (LG Act) as any land (including a public reserve) legally owned by council or under council control.

Exceptions include a public road, Crown land, common land (land that is designated for community use) subject to the Trustees of Schools of Arts Enabling Act 1902, or a regional park under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.


Public land is managed under the Local Government Act 1993 (LG Act) based on its classification. All public land must be classified as either community land or operational land (LG Act ss.25, 26).

  • Community land is land council makes available for use by the general public, for example, parks, reserves or sports grounds. Community land must not be sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of by a council. It can be leased, but there are restrictions on the grant of leases and licences, and also on the way community land can be used.
  • Operational land is land which facilitates the functions of council, and may not be open to the general public, for example, a works depot or council garage. There are no special restrictions on council powers to manage, develop, dispose, or change the nature and use of operational land.