In 2019, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, upon the recommendation from the Independent Planning Commission (IPC), approved a Planning Proposal to upzone 194–214 Oxford Street and 2 Nelson Street, Bondi Junction.

As strong opponents to this proposal, Council sought legal advice to appeal this approval, which found there is no avenue available to review the merits of this decision and that a challenge would have to be based on a legal or process error which would not be easy to demonstrate especially considering the wide discretion conferred on the Minister. As such, Council determined not to proceed with legal action.

What was the Planning Proposal?

The Planning Proposal was to increase the maximum height of buildings on the sites from 15 to 36 metres, increase the floor space ratio from 1.5:1 to 3.5:1 and to remove the heritage listing from four terrace houses. The proposed height and FSR would allow for development of two 11-storey residential towers with 94 apartments. Council twice refused the proposal on the basis that the development is excessively large, will result in overdevelopment of the site, may set a precedent for adjoining sites seeking additional height and floor space and that it is not in the public interest.

Despite Council’s continued requests to DPIE and the NSW Minister of Planning for refusal, the proposal was approved and gazetted on 20 September 2019.

The gazettal of the proposal increased the height of buildings on the sites from 15 to 36 metres, the floor space ratio from 1.5:1 to 3.5:1, removed the heritage listing from four terrace houses and requires both a design excellence competition and this site specific DCP.

What is Council consulting the community on?

With the Planning Proposal now out of Council’s hands, Council is required to exhibit the Site Specific Development Control Plan (DCP) in order to ensure that any development occurring on site is done so within the specified development controls. This includes controls about built form, design excellence, public domain and waste.

We are working hard on behalf of residents to secure a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) amount, proposed to be $7.4m, $4.7m of which is a monetary contribution.

At this stage, we want to get your feedback on the DCP and hear your ideas on what the $4.7m VPA monetary contribution can be used on, which will be used to inform the VPA once finalised.

This consultation period will run for two months – from 5 February to 10 April 2020.

Does this mean that this proposal is definitely going ahead?

Now that the Planning Proposal has been approved, the next steps are this exhibition of the Site Specific DCP. The developers then need to lodge a Development Application for the actual development to occur. The DA will go on public exhibition where you can provide your feedback and submissions. The DA will then be assessed against Council’s LEP and DCP including the Site Specific DCP for this site. We would like to stress that Council will not enter a planning agreement unless we are satisfied that the proposed development is acceptable on planning grounds in consideration of what is set out in Section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Development that is unacceptable on planning grounds will not be given consent just because the developer has offered to enter into a voluntary planning agreement.

What is Council doing to stop overdevelopment continuing?

Although Council was not able to stop the Planning Proposal from being approved and gazetted, Council is still very much committed to protecting Bondi Junction and ensuring this does not become the precedent for future Planning Proposals in this area. Council resolved in October 2019 to seek the support of the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces to investigate the preparation of a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) to protect Centennial Park from the potential of future development adversely affecting its aesthetic and heritage significance. The Waverley Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) also outlines how this area will be managed in the future, the LSPS is available on Council's website.

Want to read the documents?

A hard copy version of the draft Site Specific DCP is available to view from 5 February to 10 April 2020, at the following locations:

  • Waverley Customer Service Centre, 55 Spring Street, Bondi Junction
  • Waverley Library, Level 1 32 – 48, Denison Street Bondi Junction

Copies of the document can also be viewed in the 'Document Library' on this page.

More information?

Is available in the 'Document Library' tab on the right or call our Manager, Strategic Planning on 9083 8172.

The survey form is now closed. Thanks for your contributions.