Bondi boos as Pavilion upheld

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRIS

There was uproar and screams saying “off with her head” at Waverley Council Chambers last Saturday when a rescission motion to stop the controversial redevelopment of Bondi Pavilion failed.

The council met at 8am last Saturday to vote on the rescission motion which would put a halt to the development application that was lodged on April 19, which the community has decried as theft of community space for high end development.

The council was equally divided 6-6. There was applause when Bondi ward Liberal Councillor Joy Clayton voted against her own party in favor of the rescission. Mayor Betts casting vote was the deciding factor.

The plan to restore the dilapidated Bondi Pavilion was welcomed late last year. But since then, plans for the pavilion have been criticized as a grab for community space, and that locals would be excluded from the building.

At the meeting, Labor Councilor John Wakefield said Mayor Betts had introduced the plan just three days before guidelines as to major infrastructure spending were released by NSW Local Government Minister Paul Toole.

“We have moved from what was originally conceived and supported around this table as a refurbishment and renovation of heritage community building in its current form, to what has morphed under your leadership into a $40 million project to convert it into commercial retail restaurant space,” he told the meeting.

Clr Wakefield asked the mayor to write to the Local Government Minister to ensure that the mayor had acted properly on the question of major infrastructure spending.

“It is vital for the credibility of this council, and the credibility of the minister, that you refer this item to allow that very small act of a letter and a response to the minister”

He said that the idea for the refurbished pavilion was on the 15th December last year and that this was, “not coincidental.”

Last week Woollahra Council moved a motion requesting the NSW Premier review whether or not spending on the Pavilion complied with the Office of Local Government’s guidelines on council decisions during merger periods.

Greens Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak said that Mayor Betts had underestimated how attached locals were to the Pavilion.

“The mayor doesn’t or hasn’t realised how much the people love their pavilion. I think her Bondi ward councillor Joy Clayton, who is a Bondi born and bred local, appreciates the passion people have shown in fighting for their pavilion, and that’s why she has voted against the mayor on a rescission motion.”

“I think other Liberal councillors should be taking that lead from Councilor Clayton, and to stop the commercialization of the Bondi Pavilion — the people’s Pavilion.

“People have made submissions that the budget proposed by the pavilion be the original $10 to $15 million; not the mayor’s grand commercialization plan of $38 million.”

Mr Wy Kanak said that the development application would have to go to the community and encouraged locals to make a submission.

“There is still an approach being made by our neighbours,  Woollahra Council wrote directly to the Premier not to have this $38 million debt imposed by Mayor Betts on potential future ratepayers that may be part of an amalgamated council, that includes Woollahra and Randwick.”

“The people have decided, against that grand expensive plan, and they want the pavilion fixed, but only within the $10-15 million budget.”

The Greens candidate for Wentworth, Dejay Toborek, said that the issue could become one for the upcoming federal election this year because so many in the community were disappointed with Mayor Betts.

“The Prime Minister has a crystal clear choice ahead of him. He can either back the community who wish to see this iconic community facility appropriately restored and maintained, or he can back his personal staffer, Sally Betts the Mayor of Waverley, as she forces a lavish $38 million dollar, debt-inducing redevelopment on rate-payers.”

Mr Toborek said that Mayor Betts would effectively be enforcing a debt onto many in the Wentworth Electorate.

He said Mayor Betts’ “dogged” pursuit of the project was concerning, because it seemed apparent it did not have support of the Bondi community.

“Up to 700 submissions raised legitimate concerns about the commercialization of the Pavilion and the lack of transparency in the process, yet the Mayor has completely run rough-shot over these concerns. This subsequently leads one to wonder if there is something more to the story.”

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts dismissed claims that there was anything improper about the process.

“Allegations that the Bondi Pavilion project has breached guidelines are incorrect. We sought advice from the Office of Local Government prior to the Council meeting on 19 April 2016,” Clr Betts said.

“The Bondi Pavilion Upgrade & Conservation Project has been planned for some years. Council first approved actions related to the Bondi Pavilion project in the Bondi Park, Beach and Pavilion Plan of Management process in 2012, 2013 and 2014. This resulted in inclusion of the project in the Operations Plan 2014-15 and the Waverley Council Long Term Financial Plan received by Council in June 2014. The project was also included in the Operations Plan for 2015-16 and the current Waverley Long Term Financial Plan.”

“Council has also briefed various State Government representatives about the project, including the Minister for Environment and Heritage, the Attorney General (as Member for Vaucluse), and staff representatives from Destination NSW and from Crown Lands.”