About Ku-ring-gai

Characteristics

The Ku-ring-gai local government area covers approximately 84 square kilometres or 8,446 hectares. Ku-ring-gai contains nine suburbs and is divided into five wards.

The area displays a wide variation in landscape and wildlife with significant areas of urban bushland identified as having high conservation status.

Of the residential area, 95 per cent is occupied by low-density housing. This residential area is bounded by Garigal National Park in the east, Lane Cove River Park in the west and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the north.

Only five per cent of land use in the Ku-ring-gai area is designated to business and other usage.

Ku-ring-gai is located approximately sixteen kilometres from Sydney and is on average 152 metres above sea level. The highest point occurs along the Pacific Highway in Wahroonga, near Lucinda Avenue, which is approximately the same height as the Lower Blue Mountains.

Geology

The area is part of the eastern rim of the Cumberland Basin, elevated during the Kosciusko uplift, and consists of Hawkesbury Sandstone and Wianamatta Group formations of the Triassic Period. Erosion has caused the deeply incised streambeds, resulting in soil and clay deposits frequently found to nine metres in depth.

Physiography

The railway line is along a central ridge, which varies in width from 0.8 kilometres to 3.2 kilometres. This ridge falls away into smooth, steep slopes in the northern section and abrupt, rocky slopes and gullies in the east and west.

Natural Vegetation

Natural vegetation varies from Sydney Blue Gums and Blackbutt in the West Forest area of south-west Wahroonga and Turramurra to Stringy Bark, Grey Iron Bark and Bloodwood types in the Dry Forest areas. Smaller species and shrubs abound.

Climate

Ku-ring-gai has a moderate climate with an average maximum temperature in the hottest month of 25.8°C and an average minimum in the coldest month of 7.7°C. The average rainfall is 1,118 millimetres per annum with the highest rainfall 1,194 millimetres at Wahroonga on the southern rim of the Hornsby Plateau.