Your Street.
Your Sunlight.
jUST five minutes.

The TL;DR: This is the moment to stop a bad plan becoming permanent. Once locked in, it cannot be undone: fat and tall towers with no design controls, towers over The Nelson, our heritage consumed, the library and childcare centres gone, Oxford Street and Clementson Park left in shadow, and 9+ storey apartments crammed into two-storey conservation areas. It threatens liveability and local character — and wastes ratepayer money on a rushed plan that serves developers, not residents. Submit before 24 June.

EMAIL COUNCILLORS [2-MINS]

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How You Can Help

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How you
can help

Step 01

Email your MP

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Complete Have Your Say

Copy your email submission into the final text box.

Open portal Step 03

Attend the events

Community workshops Thursday 11 Jun & Saturday 13 Jun.

View calendar Step 04

Print a flyer

Share with neighbours who may not know the impacts.

Share locally Step 05

Make a donation

Support the challenge and community-first development.

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we have done the deep DIVING, asked the experts AND BREAK it down for you HERE

Does this look like ‘a vibrant, accessible, and welcoming place’? This is poor design and poor planning - and Waverley Council knows it. This is our reality …

Bondi Junction Master Plan Water Colours

'Vision' vs Reality

What are the facts?

People process images faster than they can process a small paragraph of fine print or a footnote. That's why elected Waverley Council Members have a duty to clearly illustrate the proposed changes and impacts to the public. Remember, not all elected members are responsible for this but the authority sits with the Mayor and those in his party.

We have architects among us who took the time to point out that the fine print does not match the illustrations released to the public.

It took us a lot of time to go through 100 pages of the ‘Master Plan’ and we don’t believe everyone who will be impacted will have this time on their hands, nor should they.

A planning document from a governing body should be watertight.

A detailed urban development map showing different zones and features, including scale transition areas, solar access requirements, heritage conservation zones, and housing types, with a pink arrow pointing to a specific note about floor space ratio removal.

PLANNING CONTROLS INCLUDING FLOOR SPACE Ratios REMOVED

‘FSR’s are the single most powerful planning tool to limit the size and bulk of buildings; the rule that controls how much floor area can be built on a block of land - these have been removed for the first time. Other planning controls such as street walls heights, set backs, building separation and sun access controls are also missing.

The mayor has deleted ‘Design Excellence’ processes - the very safeguards that protect the community from developer shortcuts.

NOTE: All heights may be subject to a 30% uplift if the developer includes ‘affordable’ housing.

Master Plan p.57 shows FSRs are not applied, Master Plan p. 59 is critically misleading >

A digital rendering of an urban street scene showing residential houses on the left with trees, a parked car in the foreground, and a large modern multi-story building behind it. The scene is labeled as 'Ruthven St looking North' with a note indicating a '30m street wall'.

Overshadowing and impact on streets and adjoining properties

Sunshine isn't a luxury — it's what makes a street worth living on, a cafe worth visiting.

Our neighbourhood's liveability depends on it, yet the Master Plan fails to protect sun access to the mall or Oxford Street. Worse, it proposes towers immediately beside fine-grained heritage housing, with zero analysis of the overshadowing impact on our streets and homes.

Council has undertaken shadow studies to compared before and after but is refusing to share them.

Master Plan p.57 shows sunshine only for min 2 hours to only 50% of green square in winter >

Watercolor illustration of West Oxford Street Village with trees lining the street, parked cars, and cafes with outdoor seating. People are walking and socializing outside the shops and cafes.

MISLEADING ILLUSTRATIONS DON’T REFLECT REALITY

The Master Plan’s illustrations are misleading, conveniently leaving out towers at the full height they can be built. They also depict sun coming from the South rather than North, sunshine where there will be in fact overshadowing.

Master Plan p.67 shows existing buildings and 6 storey towers set back, instead of the 10 storey towers with no set backs allowed on both sides of Oxford St. The trees will be dwarfed.

Master Plan p.69 the tower on the right, is shown at 40m (11 storeys) but the control allows 60m (17 storeys)

Master Plan p.79, 86 show shadows from the South >

The Nelson Hotel building with a curved yellow facade, large windows, and a mix of brick and cream exterior, at sunset.

SAVE THE PUB

Our local iconic pub is zoned with 30m+ towers - with no consideration of its local heritage listing. Even with a maintained facade, the charm this historic and bustling pub will be lost forever.

Master Plan p.57 , 66 >

Modern two-story house with large balconies, glass railings, and a mix of white, gray, and orange exterior walls, on a sunny day with trees and a person walking a dog nearby.

OUR CHILDCARE CENTRES DEMOLISHED

The existing loved and high performing daycares including Mill Hill Early Education Centre, Waverley Early Education Centre and the Grace Childcare centres, will be demolished to make way for the ‘Civic Centre’ and consolidated into high rise if replaced at all. Master Plan p.85, 87 >

SAVE BJ’S Heritage

The Master Plan states “Celebrate heritage markers within the precinct, including the Nelson Hotel and Westgate House…” yet Westgate House the oldest building in the Junction is zoned to allow 30+meter towers.
Master Plan p.57,66 >

SAVE OUR VETERINARY HOSPITAL

Our 1934 Veterinary Hospital ‘Bondi Vet’ is rezoned for 62m+ towers - with no consideration of its contribution to our community for almost a century.

Master Plan p.57 , 66 >

OUR LIBRARY DEMOLISHED

What a waste of rates to demolish our beautiful library built just 25 years ago. This appears to be one of the first buildings to go to activate the ‘Civic Centre’ as a ‘Catalyst Project’. But no mention of this in the Master Plan.
Master Plan p.82, 87 >

SAVE OUR VICTORIAN SHOPFRONTS

Sure, the Oxford St Mall needs a freshen up, but why widen the mall? To achieve that means demolishing all of the stunning Victorian facades. All to be replaced with fat 100+meter towers with no sun access. Is this a place you’ll want to sit and spend time in? Is this really for us?
Master Plan p.57, 82 >

What is the Bondi Junction ‘Master Plan’?

“The Bondi Junction Vision and Master Plan project is a landmark project that will shape the future of one of Sydney’s most significant town centres, setting a clear long-term direction for land use, transport, public space, and community outcomes.” Waverley Council Website

The decisions made now will define Bondi Junction for the next 50 years. Once locked in, they cannot be undone. This is our one opportunity to put community before developers. Key issues and page numbers below.

THE MASTER PLAN

Make a difference, Make your voice heard,
make a submission BEFORE 24th JUNE

This ‘plan’ is not for Sydney and has many critical flaws that the Eastern Suburbs have to live with if we don’t stand up and speak up. Here is what is really happening …

01

The Master Plan puts developers first and the Waverley community last, delivering not vibrancy but a dead heart; not a destination, but a place people can't wait to leave

02

This Master Plan is being rushed through for short-term political purposes sacrificing long-term outcomes. It has serious technical gaps, and its hollow promises sit in direct contradiction to its own proposed planning controls.

03

This Master Plan shows no regard for Waverley's remaining Victorian heritage, towers of 30+ metres proposed over the iconic Nelson Hotel and the 1850’s Westgate House, and overshadow conservation areas.

04

The childcare centres next to Clemenston Park are to be knocked down, including one only 10yrs old. The library is to be demolished. Something’s not right; Who is really benefitting?

Protect Bondi Junction – Email Your Council and MPS

A white Victorian-style house with ornamental trim and barred windows, set on a street corner under a blue sky with clouds.

“To ensure a major urban planning project like the Bondi Junction Master Plan genuinely benefits the local community rather than just delivering profits to private developers, residents must look closely at the "fine print.

To ensure a major urban planning project like the Bondi Junction Master Plan genuinely benefits the local community rather than just delivering profits to private developers, residents must look closely at the "fine print."

When reviewing public exhibition documents, submitting feedback to the council, or attending community consultations, here are the critical, sharp questions residents should be asking—both from a supportive standpoint and a critical standpoint.

These are the 5 critical issues we think need to be discussed at length before any votes are taken:

Infrastructure & Funding: The "Density-for-Infrastructure" Trade-off
Traffic, Parking, and the TOD (Transport-Oriented Development) Gamble
Business Mix, Character, and the "Westfield Effect"
Council Land & Keeping Assets Public
Heritage and Accountability

Which ones are the most important to you and if you were responsible for an entire community (we are such socialists we can’t help but consider the impact on others) what do you think will impact future generations?

Our Councillors represent us and should be listening and willing to stand up and take the questions to meetings.”

- The Waverley Whisperer

PHILIP THALIS: How NOT to make a Master Plan - poor attempt at Bondi Junction by Waverley Council

“Yes it’s a good area for density, but not at any cost, and not without significant cultural and public space improvements.
Having 100m high towers on fat podia along Oxford Street pedestrian mall super dubious - cg Parramatta, Burwood Rd, Harris Park.
… no consideration at all of environmental factors - shading & wind, or of increasing canopy.”

— Philip Thalis , Director LFRAIA, Professor of Practice in Architecture (UNSW), B Sc Arch, B Arch (Hons) USyd, CEAA Arch Urb Paris Belleville
Australian Institute of Architects 2024 Gold Medalist

Upcoming Events - THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY WITH COUNCIL

Community Information Workshop #1

When: Thursday 11 June 5:00-7:00PM
Where: Boot Factory, Spring St
Come along to a community information workshop to discuss the plan and ask our Mayor some questions.

ADD TO CALENDAR
Community Information Workshop #2

When: Saturday 13 June 11:00AM-1:00PM
Where: Mill Hill - Community Centre Hall, Spring Street, Bondi Junction
Come along to a community information workshop to discuss the plan and ask our Mayor some questions.

Add to Calendar
Pop-up Stall - Oxford St Mall #3

When: Monday, 15 June 3:00-4:30PM
Where: Oxford Street Mall near the train station entrance.
Visit pop-up stalls at Oxford Street Mall near the train station entrance to share your feedback direct with Council.

Add to CALENDAR
Pop-up Stall - Oxford St Mall #4

When: Thursday, 18 June 10:30AM-12:00PM
Where: Oxford Street Mall near the train station entrance.
Visit pop-up stalls at Oxford Street Mall near the train station entrance to share your feedback direct with Council.

ADD TO CALENDAR