Waverley Council developments spark transparency concerns

Waverley Council developments spark transparency concerns
Image: Bondi Junction. Photo: Tripadvisor

By Emily Contador-Kelsall

Community consultations for the West Oxford Street Precinct Plan are about to open up after a rocky start with residents.

Earlier this year, the Bondi Junction community strongly opposed proposed developments to West Oxford Street. The community feared amendments to the 2012 Waverley Local Environment Plan [LEP] that would allow for high-rise buildings.

Save West Bondi Junction and the Bondi Junction Precinct Committee felt that they were left “in the dark” during the consultation process. When residents were asked to sign confidentiality agreements during planning meetings the transparency of the design and master plan process was brought into question.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, the West Oxford Street Precinct Plan was placed on public exhibition.

Council also moved towards amending Clause 6.7 of the LEP to allow buildings in these areas to exceed the current height limits that were enforced to maximise solar access to public spaces.

Labor Councillor Paula Masselos, who accused council of a lack of transparency in the negotiation process around West Bondi Junction earlier this year, said she is not confident that what the community wants will be what the community will end up with.

“Consultation is important but I hope the community have a loud voice and make their views heard very strongly and that councillors understand very clearly the anger of the community.”

“As councillors we need to present the interest of the community.”

Mayor Sally Betts said council was ensuring the community has an opportunity to comment on the project without direction from council.

“There has been support for and concern against various [elements] of the concepts. From day one council said this would go on public exhibition and it would be wrong of us now not to ask for community input.”

The final report by Elton Consulting revealed that many people did not want high-rise development.

“This is against what the community wanted, and very clearly saying, they don’t want buildings of that height,” said Cr Masselos.

Save West Bondi Junction, a community group opposed to the development of high-rise towers in the West Oxford Street Precinct of Bondi Junction, fought against this possibility earlier this year.

Cr Masselos fears redevelopment of Oxford St will lead to a domino effect of development around Bondi Junction.

“I am extremely concerned Pandora’s Box has been opened and we will be powerless to stop it.”

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