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High-Profile Dog Attack in Neutral Bay Puts Pet Controls in Focus

A four-year control order involving television presenter Karl Stefanovic’s German shepherd has renewed attention on dog control in Neutral Bay, where North Sydney Council recorded 54 alleged dog attacks in its latest annual reporting period.

The alleged dog attack on Military Road in Neutral Bay has resulted in the control order involving Chance, the German shepherd owned by Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic. Published accounts citing court documents say the incident involved an attack on a person and another dog, with the person’s injury described as serious.

North Sydney Council had issued Chance with a dangerous dog declaration before the decision was challenged in the Local Court. Published reports of the court outcome say the declaration was revoked under a consent resolution and replaced with a four-year control order requiring restrictions on Chance in public and at home.

North Sydney recorded 54 alleged attacks in a year

Dog attacks already form part of North Sydney Council’s animal-management workload. Council’s 2024-25 annual report records 54 reports of alleged dog attack incidents during the financial year, with all of them reported to the NSW Office of Local Government as required.

Council describes North Sydney as a dog-friendly area, with dogs permitted in many parks and reserves subject to local restrictions. Owners and dog walkers remain responsible for keeping animals under effective control, including in designated off-leash areas.

Four-year order sets conditions for Chance

Under the reported terms of the order, Chance must be muzzled and kept on a leash when walked in public. Court documents also state that the dog must undergo behavioural or socialisation training with a qualified expert within six months, and that evidence of completion must be provided to North Sydney Council.

Conditions reported for the property where Chance is kept include secure containment and a warning sign. The order also reportedly prevents the dog from being left in the care of anyone under 18.

NSW law allows a court to make a control order requiring an owner to take measures intended to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a dog attacking or injuring a person or animal. Section 47 of the Companion Animals Act 1998 specifically provides for measures including behavioural or socialisation training and responsible pet ownership training.

Control orders are separate from dangerous dog declarations under NSW law. Owners of dogs that remain formally declared dangerous face statutory requirements covering registration, desexing, adult supervision and secure containment, as well as muzzle and leash requirements when the dog is outside its prescribed enclosure.

Courts can also make destruction orders in specified circumstances, but destruction is not an automatic consequence of a dangerous dog declaration. The Act requires a court, in relevant cases, to consider whether a control order or permanent removal from the owner would be sufficient to protect the public before ordering a dog destroyed.

What to do if a dog attacks

North Sydney Council asks anyone who witnesses a dog attack on a person or animal, or is attacked by a dog, to report the incident to council rangers as soon as possible. Residents making a report are asked to provide the location, date, and time; a description of the dog and owner, if known; and photographs or other available evidence.

Published 8-Sept-2026

Dividing Lanes and Closing Streets: Inside the Neutral Bay Cycleway Battle

Photo Credit: North Sydney Council

Amid fierce protests from packed public galleries and tearful pleas from local residents, North Sydney officials have pushed through a controversial 1.5-kilometre bike path designed to reshape neighbourhood traffic.

Neutral Bay — *Photo Credit:* *North Sydney Council*

The decision arrived following a marathon public forum where locals packed the council chambers to voice deep concerns. Residents argued that the newly approved layout differed significantly from the initial plans they were originally invited to review.

Local homeowners pointed out that the changes would permanently block off parts of Harrison Street, narrow vital roadways, and eliminate scores of kerbside parking bays across several neighbourhood pockets. While original community consultations had promised no net loss of overall parking through space relocations, the endorsed plan instead results in a net loss of eleven spaces after stripping out sixty-eight kerbside spots and returning only fifty-sept.

Concerns reached far beyond simple parking frustrations. Several speakers warned that narrowing residential streets could trap fire engines leaving local stations and block ambulances during emergencies. Business representatives also highlighted the removal of critical disability parking near places of worship.

Frustrated community members felt completely sidelined by the process, pointing to outdated traffic data that failed to account for a surge of high-density apartment developments currently approved or underway across the suburb.

Proponents of the infrastructure stood their ground against the backlash. Supporters argued that a rapidly growing population makes alternative transport options an absolute necessity for future safety. Pointing to upcoming housing targets set by the state government, council leaders insisted that separated cycleways are vital to protect children riding to local schools as neighbourhood density climbs.

While the council vote greenlights the concept design, the project still faces major hurdles. The multi-million-dollar build remains unfunded, relying entirely on future state government grants. Technical sign-offs from local traffic committees and transport authorities must also be secured before any machinery moves on-site, with construction delayed until at least 2028.

Published Date 21-August-2026

Heritage Bus Shelters Set For Long-Overdue Restoration Across North Sydney

The heritage bus shelters of North Sydney have been part of local life for decades. They are a familiar sight on busy roads, with their orange, ruby red and warm beige colours easy to spot.

Now, North Sydney Council has approved funding to repair 12 of the shelters in most urgent need of attention. The work will cover stops in Neutral Bay, Cammeray, Cremorne, Waverton and nearby suburbs.

Council manages 51 heritage-style bus shelters across the local government area. Of those, 22 have been identified in recent years as needing critical renewal works. The latest program is intended to preserve their heritage significance, address safety and condition issues, and extend their useful life.

A design with local character

These shelters are small structures, but they carry a strong local identity. Heritage records describe them as modest, well-made buildings with timber posts, tiled roofs and simple bench seating.

They were designed to echo an earlier tram shelter style and to suit their different locations. That approach gave the shelters a consistent look, while still letting them sit naturally in their surroundings.

Former mayor Ted Mack played a key role in their design and colour scheme. In a 1987 interview, he said the shelters gave people a sense of belonging. That idea still has some weight today, especially in a part of Sydney where streetscape matters.

The shelters were formally heritage-listed in 2015. Their value is not tied to size or grandeur. Instead, it sits in the way they contribute to the everyday character of North Sydney.

Lessons from a costly mistake

The restoration program follows a difficult moment for council. In 2023, contractors accidentally demolished five heritage shelters and replaced them with new structures.

That incident highlighted how careful these sites need to be treated. It also showed that replacement is not a simple or cheap option. At the time, like-for-like replica shelters were estimated to cost between $50,000 and $60,000 each.

Council has now chosen restoration rather than replacement. That approach should help keep the shelters’ original look while dealing with the wear and damage they have picked up over time.

Small structures, lasting presence

The heritage bus shelters may not be the biggest items in North Sydney’s built environment. Even so, they are part of what gives the area its familiar feel.

From Neutral Bay to Waverton, they have served commuters for years. Now, after a long stretch of wear, they are finally set to receive the attention they need.

Published 19-August-2026

Anderson Street Kiosk Gets Conditional Green Light — But There’s a Catch

Photo Credit: North Sydney Council

The tiny triangular block on Anderson Street that captured the imagination of property watchers across Sydney is edging closer to becoming a neighbourhood coffee kiosk — but the project is not out of the woods just yet.

North Sydney Council has granted a deferred commencement approval for the 35-square-metre Neutral Bay site, meaning the Anderson Street kiosk cannot proceed until one significant design issue is resolved: the plans must be amended to include toilet facilities for staff.

The block, a former electricity substation site, was one of three uniquely small, ex-Ausgrid sites to hit the market in 2025 and made headlines when it sold for $189,000 — more than triple its $60,000 guide price.

Plans lodged in June proposed a compact takeaway-only kiosk offering barista-made coffee, hot drinks, pre-packaged sandwiches, wraps, baked goods and snacks, with proposed trading hours of 7am to 7pm, seven days a week. The structure would span just 11.5 square metres, with a maximum of three staff and three customers permitted on site at any one time. There would be no kitchen, no on-site cooking, and no customer seating — and, as things stood in the original application, no toilet either.

That last omission proved to be the sticking point. At a recent North Sydney Local Planning Panel meeting, Neutral Bay Club president Stewart Hodgson raised the concern that staff and customers caught short would inevitably make use of the adjacent club’s facilities. Panel members also questioned how workers could reasonably manage full shifts — the kiosk proposed operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week — without any on-site amenities. The closest public toilets are roughly a ten-minute walk away, at Forsyth Park or Neutral Bay Village.

The applicant’s planning consultant told the panel that staff were expected to work relatively short shifts of around two to three hours, and indicated the kiosk’s owner would be willing to install a toilet if the council required it. Council has now made that a formal condition: the design must be revised to incorporate appropriate staff toilet facilities before the approval can take effect.

Building the kiosk is estimated to cost $187,600 — almost exactly what the land itself sold for, bringing the total investment in the little wedge of land next to the Neutral Bay Club to around $377,000.

It’s a remarkable journey for what was, not long ago, a modest patch of grass that most people walked past without a second thought.

Published 13-August-2026

Cult Kirribilli Taco Bar Chico’s is Coming to Neutral Bay

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Chico’s Neutral Bay is officially happening — the popular Mexican bar and grill that built a loyal following in Kirribilli is relocating to Rangers Road, with doors expected to open in late September or early October 2026.

The new restaurant will take over the former Yok Thai site on Rangers Rd, directly opposite Woolworths — and for the brothers behind it, the move feels less like a leap and more like coming home.

Chico’s is owned by Ahmed Kalil and his brother Sharif, the same duo who have run WingMill, the American-style wings and burgers joint, out of Neutral Bay for the past eight years. Ahmed said the suburb has always felt like his community, and bringing Chico’s across Military Road was a natural next step after WingMill’s sustained success in the area.

Chico’s first opened in Kirribilli in 2022, quickly earning a reputation for its Mexican menu — lamb birria tacos among the standout dishes — along with an extensive margarita list. With the Kirribilli lease drawing to a close, the Rangers Rd site presented the opportunity to go bigger.

Sydney design studio Kreativ is handling the fit-out, and Ahmed has described the planned aesthetic as a boho, Tulum-inspired space — think natural materials, open windows and plenty of light. The indoor dining room will seat 75 guests. Outdoor seating is also planned, pending approval from North Sydney Council, with Ahmed noting he wants locals to be able to bring their dogs along for dinner.

The new menu will carry across Chico’s existing favourites alongside new additions, supported by a full drinks list centred on margaritas, mezcals and Mexican beers.

California-born Ahmed has been in Australia since 2009 and runs the front of house, with Sharif overseeing the kitchen. He has spoken warmly about the lower north shore community and its support of the business through difficult periods.

Chico’s Neutral Bay is expected to open on Rangers Rd in late September or early October. A confirmed opening date will be announced closer to the time.

Published 30-July-2026

Pilates Studio and Italian Restaurant Open Their Doors at Pienza Neutral Bay

The Pienza development on Waters Road has reached a significant milestone, with the arrival of Bodylove Pilates and Italian restaurant Trattor completing the ground-floor retail precinct at the mixed-use Neutral Bay site.

The two new tenants join Dan Murphy’s and Wholegreen Bakery at 12–14 Waters Road, rounding out the retail vision that developer Central Element set out to achieve when the $180 million project was first launched. The development features around 2,000 square metres of street-level retail activation alongside 37 apartments designed by SJB Architects.

Bodylove Pilates, a Sydney brand with studios in Woollahra, the CBD and Manly, has opened its fourth location within the Pienza development. The multi-level studio is architecturally designed with herringbone flooring, terrazzo finishes and a feature spiral staircase connecting two levels, and offers reformer, mat, barre, strength, yoga and prenatal classes. More than 120 classes are scheduled each week, with the studio aiming to serve residents from Neutral Bay and the broader Lower North Shore.

Founder Ali Handley said the goal had always been to build spaces that support rather than exhaust, and that she was looking forward to growing a connected wellness community in the area.

Trattor, a modern Italian restaurant on Grosvenor Street, is the final piece of the precinct. The restaurant’s menu centres on antipasti, handmade pasta, flame-kissed pizza and wine, and aims to cater for midweek dinners, long lunches and everything in between. Its interiors were designed by Vie Studio, and early signs suggest locals have wasted no time embracing it — on its first Saturday of trading, a soft launch night, all tables were filled and diners were waiting outside for a seat.

Founder Matthew Wang described Trattor as a true neighbourhood restaurant — somewhere locals could return to regularly for food that feels both comforting and considered, with a genuine focus on quality ingredients and community connection.

Central Element managing director Nathan Chivas said the completion of the retail precinct was an important milestone for the project. From the outset, he said, the intention was to create something more than a residential building — a genuine village precinct that would add to the everyday life and character of Neutral Bay.

Pienza was designed by SJB Architects and built by Richard Crookes Constructions, with the project launched off the plan in 2021 and completed in 2025. It achieved record-breaking prices for the suburb, including a reported $7 million sale for a three-bedroom apartment.

Central Element continues to be active on the Lower North Shore, with a proposed seniors housing development in Greenwich underway, a newly acquired site in Barry Street, Neutral Bay, and separately lodged plans for a major mixed-use tower development at Lavender Bay comprising 163 apartments across two buildings of 23 and 32 storeys.

For locals keen to explore the precinct, a community event called Taste of Pienza is planned for Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July, with promotions and giveaways across all four retail tenancies.

Published 25-June-2026

Anderson Street Coffee Kiosk Planned for Famous Neutral Bay Patch of Grass

Photo Credit: North Sydney Council

That odd wedge of grass on Anderson Street — the one that had all of Neutral Bay talking when it sold for a jaw-dropping $189,000 last year — may soon have a purpose. A development application lodged with North Sydney Council proposes an Anderson Street coffee kiosk on the site: a compact, takeaway-only structure that would serve barista coffee and light snacks to locals, walkers, and members of the neighbouring Neutral Bay Club.

The block at 9 Anderson Street measures just 35 square metres in total — roughly the footprint of a double garage. It was one of three small, surplus Ausgrid parcels that went to auction in early 2025, each previously used as easement or substation access sites. This particular lot had housed a brick electricity substation built in 1965, which was demolished in 2023, leaving behind the distinctive triangular shape. When it went to market with a $60,000 guide, few predicted what came next: a bidding war that pushed the final price to $189,000 — more than three times the guide.

Now, the owner named in the planning documents, Maurizio Serapiglia, has revealed what he has in mind for the land. The proposed kiosk, designed by Graphio Architects and submitted through planning consultancy Sky Planning, would occupy just 11.5 square metres — well within North Sydney Council’s 40-square-metre cap for kiosk structures on land zoned private recreation, where this type of use is permissible with council approval.

The structure would be single-storey with no kitchen, no cooking facilities, no seating, and no alcohol. The menu would be limited to barista-made coffee and hot drinks, along with pre-packaged sandwiches, wraps, baked goods, confectionery and snacks. Proposed trading hours are 7am to 7pm, seven days a week including public holidays, with no more than three staff and approximately three customers permitted on site at any one time.

The plans include a planted green roof, though this would be accessible to staff only via a side staircase behind a locked gate, and used solely for maintenance purposes. Other features include CCTV, a single small sign, and two bike parking spaces for staff. There is no on-site car parking or vehicle access.

The estimated construction cost is $187,600 — almost identical to the purchase price of the land itself. Combined, the owner’s total investment in the project would reach approximately $376,000, staking a considerable sum on what the planning documents describe as a “small-scale, takeaway-only” operation designed to minimise impact on nearby residents.

The development application was lodged on 4 June 2026. North Sydney Council is yet to make a determination.

Published 24-June-2026

Inside Neutral Bay’s New Flannerys Organic Wholefood Market

Flannerys Organic & Wholefood Market/Facebook

Flannerys Organic Wholefood Market, the 50-year-old organic grocery chain founded as a small bulk wholefoods store in 1973, now has a home in Neutral Bay at Shop 15, Theo’s Arcade on Military Road, bringing certified organic produce, local artisan suppliers and free in-store naturopath advice to the lower north shore.

The Neutral Bay store marks Flannerys’ latest step in a steady Sydney expansion, following the success of its revamped Mona Vale location, which became the blueprint for how the brand wants to operate in the city. The Military Road location sits within easy reach of Neutral Bay’s core shopping and dining precinct, with parking accessible via Grosvenor Lane.

For a suburb that has been adding wellness studios, specialty food spots and lifestyle offerings at pace over recent years, Flannerys fills a gap that residents have been navigating around — the need to make multiple trips to cover organic groceries, supplements, health products and nutritional advice in a single outing is now solved in one Military Road stop.

A full shop, from produce to practitioner

Flannerys Neutral Bay operates as a genuine one-stop organic supermarket. The range covers certified organic fruit and vegetables, fresh meat, bakery goods, pantry staples, supplements and natural health products. Local and well-known suppliers sit alongside the core Flannerys range, including NATIV meats, Sonoma Bakery, Brickfields Bakery and Drink Rolly — a lineup that covers most of what a Neutral Bay household might reach for in a given week.

Photo Credit: Flannerys Organic & Wholefood Market/Facebook

What sets Flannerys apart from a standard health food retailer, though, is the naturopath counter. Qualified naturopaths are available on the shop floor for complimentary wellbeing advice, and private consultations can be booked on-site.

In a retail landscape where health advice is mostly self-directed through apps and Google searches, having a qualified practitioner available while you do the grocery run is a genuinely unusual offer.

Flannerys CEO Fergus Collins said the move into Neutral Bay reflects the alignment between the suburb’s lifestyle and the brand’s model. “Flannerys tends to resonate in communities where people are already thinking more intentionally about what they eat and how they live,” Collins said. “Neutral Bay has a strong appetite for quality food, wellness products and trusted advice, which aligns closely with what we offer.”

From Mrs Flannerys to Military Road

The brand’s history gives it a depth that newer wellness retailers can’t replicate. Flannerys started in 1973 as Mrs Flannerys, a small bulk wholefoods store built on the idea that food plays a central role in health. Over five decades it evolved into one of Australia’s most recognisable organic retail chains, now operated by The Natural Grocery Company with locations spanning from the Gold Coast to northern New South Wales.

The Mona Vale store’s success proved the Sydney market was ready for a fuller expression of the Flannerys model, and that location has become the template for what Neutral Bay now receives.

“The response in Mona Vale showed us that Sydney customers are looking for more than just products — they want knowledge and support as well,” Collins said. “We’re bringing that same philosophy to Neutral Bay.”

Finding Flannerys on Military Road

Flannerys Organic Wholefood Market is at Shop 15, Theo’s Arcade, Military Road, Neutral Bay. Parking is accessible via Grosvenor Lane. More information on the store, including naturopath consultation bookings, is available here.

Published 19-June-2026

Flannerys Organic Wholefood Market Opens New Store in Neutral Bay

Flannerys Organic & Wholefood Market/Facebook

Flannerys Organic Wholefood Market is bringing certified organic wholefoods, bulk pantry staples and an in-store naturopath service to the lower north shore with the opening of its newest store at Shop 15, Theo’s Arcade on Military Road, Neutral Bay.

The store opens on Friday 19 June and continues a steady run of expansion for a brand that began life in 1973 as a small shop in northern New South Wales. Founded by Mal and Berice Flannery on a simple premise that food is medicine, the business has spent more than five decades building a reputation for organic products and trusted health advice.

For Neutral Bay locals, the new store means certified organic fresh produce, bulk wholefoods, vitamins, supplements and natural health products are now available within walking distance, alongside the qualified naturopath consultations that have defined the Flannerys experience since its earliest days.

More than 50 years of organic retailing

What started as a modest local operation offering bulk wholefoods and natural supplements has grown into one of the most recognised organic retail brands on Australia’s east coast. The Flannery family sold the business in 2008, with the brand passing to new owners who carried forward the same founding philosophy.

Today it operates under The Natural Grocery Company, which also runs Fundies Wholefood Market and Kunara Organic Marketplace.

The brand marked 50 years in business in 2024, a milestone that reflects genuine longevity in a retail category that has seen plenty of competitors come and go. Flannerys now operates stores across Queensland in Benowa, Chermside, Maroochydore, Paddington, Miami, Robina, Tewantin and Victoria Point, alongside New South Wales locations in Mona Vale and Murwillumbah.

In-store health advice remains a key focus

The naturopath service is central to how Flannerys positions itself against standard health food retailers. Every store includes access to qualified naturopaths and nutritionists offering free, complementary wellbeing advice on the shop floor, with private clinic consultations also available for anyone wanting a more in-depth session.

Flannerys CEO Fergus Collins says the appeal comes down to trust built through direct access to expertise. “Flannerys fits into places where people are already thinking carefully about what they bring into their homes and how it supports the way they want to live,” he said.

“We want customers to be able to walk in, ask questions and feel confident in their choices. Having qualified naturopaths available in store has always been an important part of the Flannerys experience and something that continues to resonate strongly with our customers.”

Building on momentum in Sydney

The Neutral Bay opening builds directly on the momentum of Flannerys’ recently refurbished Mona Vale store, which was the brand’s first foothold in Sydney and has since been embraced by the local community. That response gave the company confidence to push further into the Sydney market.

“The response we have seen in Mona Vale has given us great confidence in Sydney and reinforced that there is a strong appetite for what Flannerys offers,” Collins said. “As the Neutral Bay area continues to evolve, so too does the expectation for spaces and services that support a more health conscious way of living. We look forward to becoming part of the community and providing an offering that makes everyday wellness easy and accessible.”

Flannerys Neutral Bay opens Friday 19 June at Shop 15, Theo’s Arcade, Military Road, Neutral Bay. For more information, click here.

Published 18-June-2026

Plans Lodged for Tiny Coffee Kiosk on Neutral Bay’s $189,000 Triangle Block

A 35-square-metre triangular block on Anderson Street in Neutral Bay that sold at auction for $189,000 is the subject of a development application for an 11.5-square-metre coffee kiosk, in what amounts to a $377,000 bet on the morning coffee habits of lower north shore commuters.

The block, a former Ausgrid electricity substation site next to the Neutral Bay Club, has sat as a triangular patch of grass since the original brick substation was demolished in 2023. Its owner, Maurizio Serapiglia, has now lodged plans with the North Sydney planning authority to transform the wedge-shaped parcel into a single-storey takeaway kiosk designed by Graphio Architects and lodged by Sky Planning.

If approved, the kiosk would serve barista coffee, hot drinks and pre-packaged snacks, sandwiches and confectionery seven days a week, including public holidays, between 7am and 7pm. No more than three staff and around three customers would occupy the site at any one time.

A very small building on a very small block

The proposed kiosk at 11.5 square metres is, for context, smaller than a single garage. The block it would sit on at 35 square metres is roughly the size of a double garage. Together, they make for one of the more compact commercial propositions the lower north shore has seen in recent memory.

The construction cost is estimated at $187,600 — almost precisely what the land itself sold for. Add land and build together and the total commitment sits at around $377,000, all riding on the appetite of Neutral Bay residents, Neutral Bay Club members and passers-by for a well-made flat white.

The design includes a green roof planted with gardens, accessible only by staff via a side staircase behind a locked metal gate. There is no customer seating, no kitchen, no cooking, no alcohol and no vehicle access. Two staff bicycle spaces are included in the plans, along with a single small sign and CCTV.

From a substation auction to a DA

The Anderson Street block’s journey to this point has been anything but ordinary. Ausgrid, the electricity network operator, sold three tiny former substation parcels at auction in 2025, and all three cleared their price guides by significant margins. The Anderson Street block was listed with a $60,000 guide by Scott Thornton of Bresic Whitney and drew scores of registered bidders before selling for $189,000 — more than three times its guide — in a result that surprised even experienced lower north shore agents.

At the time of the sale it was unclear what the buyer planned to do with the land. The block is zoned for private recreation, a category that permits a kiosk with planning approval, provided it comes in under the 40-square-metre cap. At 11.5 square metres, the proposed kiosk sits well within that limit.

An Ausgrid green power box remains on the verge outside the site.

A handy stop for the Anderson Street crowd

The plans pitch the kiosk as a practical amenity for locals, walkers and Neutral Bay Club members using the adjacent grounds. Anderson Street connects Military Road to the club and the foreshore parklands beyond, carrying a consistent stream of foot traffic through the morning peak that a well-positioned takeaway kiosk is designed to capture.

The application was lodged on 4 June 2026 and is pending assessment. The North Sydney planning authority has not yet made a determination. Community members can view the application and lodge submissions through the North Sydney planning portal.

Published 18-June-2026