Bondi Junction high rises over shadow residents’ concerns

BY TALLULAH THOMPSON & DYLAN CRISMALE

The Waverley community is continuing their efforts to “halt the high-rise” development of two residential towers at West Bondi, after developer Stargate Property Group, took their case to the State Government.

Over 100 people attended a rally on Saturday 11 March to raise their concerns about the new planning proposal.

Howard Parry-Husbands, Spokesperson for the Save West Bondi Junction group and principal organiser of the rally, said,“There is an assumption that all of these towers…all of the extra cars and all of the extra people can just fit in, and I feel that this is really disingenuous.”

“I should be really clear, Save West Bondi Junction is not opposed to development or high rise towers, we are simply opposed to development on this site,” he said.

According to a new proposal submitted to the NSW Planning and Environment Department, the developer is seeking to amend the Waverley Local Environmental Plan (2012) for 194-214 Oxford Street and 2 Nelson Street in Bondi Junction, a location across the street from Centennial Park close to where the Moonlight Cinema is held.

The revised plan would see the maximum building height increase from 15 to 36 metres, a larger floor space ratio than the current guideline and the demolition of four heritage listed terrace houses.

John Wakefield, ALP Waverley Councillor, said the turnout at the rally was indicative of the major concerns residents still have about the development proposal.

He said it was disappointing not all Waverley Councillors made the effort to come along.

“The lack of attendance of Liberal Party councillors was disgraceful.

“All liberal councillors, including the two ward councillors, Angela Burrill and Andrew Cusack and the Liberal Mayor, Sally Betts, were invited to this rally [and] all of them refused to come,” he said.

Waverley Mayor, Sally Betts told City Hub that attending the rally could have affected the obligations of councillors under the Local Government Act which states they must exercise caution in relation to statutory planning matters.

“Councillors need to avoid claims of bias or predetermination or perception of having a ‘closed mind’ during the assessment process.

“Apart from taking into consideration the cautions expressed about attending… you should know that I actually sent my apologies for not attending the rally due to a long standing family event,” she said.

Waverley Council initiated community consultation after the Department of Planning and Environment issued a Gateway Determination for the proposal.

“Council is conducting a community consultation process on behalf of the State Government.

“Our officers will prepare a report for the Government and the Secretary of the Planning Department will make the final decision,” Ms Betts said.

The community consultation closed on the March 10.

Mr Wakefield said the report prepared by Waverley Council officers could take up to five weeks to complete.

Wendy Wilson, a volunteer for Save West Bondi Junction, said the group fought tirelessly for three years to stop the high-rise development.

“Once they allow that tower to go ahead, it gives the green light for a lot of other towers around Centennial Park,” she said.

Nathan Short, local resident and small business owner, is also concerned about the development.

“I can’t stress enough how much I hate how [apartment block development] removes perfectly good small business properties and replaces them with money sponging high rises,” he said.

He also doesn’t think community action, like the Halt the Rise rally, is effective.

“I’m convinced there’s no point in fighting big business and big money.

“It’s better to take your toys and go and play somewhere else,” he said.

Despite some misgivings, the rally ended with a call for concerned community members to write to their NSW State member Bruce Notley-Smith, Planning Minister Anthony Roberts and local council.

“I think it would be wise for people in Government to realise that this sort of protest is a grassroots movement from people who live here quite peacefully, and just recognise that there is something corrupt about allowing towers like this to be built,” said Mr Parry-Husbands.

The Save West Bondi Junction website states residents are worried about the shadow that the towers would create over Centennial Park, the impact on traffic congestion and removal of heritage terraces, among other issues.

The preceding proposal went before Waverley Council in 2015 and all councillors voted against it due to concerns about the height and impacts on surrounding properties.