Traffic Speeds - Compass IOT data indicates that the 85th Percentile Speed exceeds the posted speed limit at specific locations on Blair Street.

Relative Kinetic Energy Distribution - The consultants reviewed the Relative Kinetic Energy Distribution and provides a percentage of total kinetic energy from all connected vehicles recorded within the neighbourhood, where the energy of each vehicle is calculated as 1/2mv2 (where m = mass, v = velocity). It can be useful in identifying areas of high risk to vulnerable road users where combinations of factors such as heavy vehicles, high traffic volumes and high speeds may be present.

Although not one of the areas with the highest percentages of Kinetic Energy Distribution, the section on Blair Street between Glenayr Avenue and Wairoa Avenue is still very high in comparison to the other roads in the study area.

Fatality and Serious Injury Probability Risk - The Fatality and Serious Injury (FSI) probability assessment revealed a number of areas that exhibit high relative density and high relative traffic energy distribution, which determine high FSI risk. These included locations on Blair Street.

Near Miss Data and GPS Location and data of Near Miss Sites - Near miss data display incidents of vehicle data where high g-forces due to braking or swerving were recorded. The braking and swerving actions recorded are possible to arise from interactions with other vehicles or incidents with pedestrians and cyclists. Individual near misses were recorded on several locations, including on Blair Street.

Reducing speeds to 40 km/h zone in Bondi Beach/Bondi Road area - Waverley Council is currently working with Transport for NSW to reduce the speed limit from 50km/h to 40km/h in the Bondi and North Bondi area. The 85th speed in the 40 km/h area generally falls within 45 km/h, with one exception on Blair Street. Transport for NSW and Council have agreed to investigate traffic calming measures at Blair Street & Wairoa Avenue.

Bondi LATM Program – November 2022

The Blair Street and Wairoa Avenue Intersection Upgrade Project forms part of the broader Bondi LATM Program. Community consultation for the LATM Program was undertaken in November 2022, during which residents were invited to provide feedback on road safety, parking, pedestrian movements and cycling in the local Bondi area.

Council received approximately 350 responses. Four submissions specifically identified the Blair Street and Wairoa Avenue intersection as problematic, confusing, and unsafe for pedestrians.

An online petition was initiated by North Bondi residents calling for the installation of a pedestrian crossing at the Blair Street and Wairoa Avenue intersection. The petition was hosted on Change.org and received 554 signatures as of 23 April 2025. Although the petition did not strictly comply with Council’s Petitions Policy, given that only postcodes or general locations were provided rather than full residential addresses, this limitation reflected the format of the online platform.

While the petition was not undertaken as part of Council’s formal consultation program, it nonetheless provided valuable community insight into local safety concerns within the project area. Accordingly, Council accepted the petition as sufficient and included it on the Agenda of the Council Meeting held on 29 April 2025, where it was formally considered in the development of the Blair Street and Wairoa Avenue Intersection Upgrade Project.

In response to community feedback, Council is moving forward with safety upgrades at this location. Council is seeking community input on the proposed design options presented.

Noting the outcome of the study, and community submissions, traffic calming treatment options to be investigated to reduce traffic speed, safer crossings for pedestrians to be reviewed and travel for vulnerable road users to be improved at the Blair Street & Wairoa Avenue intersection.

Considerations:

• Traffic calming treatments – investigate speed cushions, road humps, chicanes, line marking, kerb buildouts
• Parking gain/loss – maintain and or/increase where possible, justification required if parking loss.
• Pedestrian movements and crossings – review main pedestrian movements at intersections and look to improving crossings, where possible.
• Cyclists – review cyclist movements and improve routes and crossings
• Green space – where the design increases open spaces, identify areas of planting and/or trees.
• Note residents’ driveways and access – while developing the design, note driveway access movements

Review of Environmental factors and Heritage Assessment:

The intersection includes part of the Blair Street Landscape Conservation Area, which is listed in Schedule 5 of the Waverley Local Environmental Plan. Blair Street also follows the alignment of the historic Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer, which is located underground and listed on the NSW Heritage Register.

A Heritage Impact Statement and Review of Environmental factors (REF) was commissioned by Waverley Council for different alternatives (Option 1 and Option 2) to the proposed upgraded to the intersection of Blair Street and Wairoa Avenue, North Bondi. Each proposal was considered and discussed on their own merits in relation to the established heritage significance of the precinct.

The report concludes that Option 1 is a better alternative than Option 2 and can be supported from a heritage perspective. To review the assessment of the options; see the Review of Environmental Factors Report in the Document Library.

Based on the outcome of the REF report, Council Officers have provided Option 1 and have also developed an Option 1a, which aligns with the advice in the report therefore not requiring additional heritage assessment, for community consultation.

Design Option 1

• New planted kerb islands with opportunity for street trees.  These will provide traffic calming, slowing vehicles by narrowing the roadway. They also improve visibility for all road users, particularly as people often cross at these locations. Providing extended areas of kerb allows for drivers to better identify pedestrians about to cross, and pedestrians to better identify a driver before they cross. Kerb islands reduce the crossing distance, time to cross, and exposure to vehicles for pedestrians. The proposed option reduces the exposure for pedestrians by 60% crossing Wairoa Avenue and 50% crossing Blair Street.There is concern that street trees limit visibility, however, this is dependent on species. This is to be determined in the detailed design phase.

• New continuous footpath treatment (CFT) at Wallis parade and Wairoa Avenue (North of Blair St) CFT’s slow down traffic in a similar way to a speed hump, making vehicles slow down to navigate the vertical rise. They also provide priority for pedestrians, as drivers must give way.

• New raised pedestrian crossings across Blair Street and Wairoa Avenue (south of Blair St) Raised crossings slow down traffic in a similar way to a speed hump, making vehicles slow down to navigate the vertical rise. They also provide priority for pedestrians and cyclists, as drivers must give way.

• Parking. The design has potential to increase the available parking supply by one additional car parking space.

• Reconfigured traffic flow on Blair Street. Through the removal of the right hand turn into Wairoa Avenue (from Blair Street) and the introduction of an east to west turning bay on Blair Street.

Design Option 1A

• New planted kerb islands with opportunity for street trees.  These will provide traffic calming, slowing vehicles by narrowing the roadway. They also improve visibility for all road users, particularly as people often cross at these locations. Providing extended areas of kerb allows for drivers to better identify pedestrians about to cross, and pedestrians to better identify a driver before they cross. Kerb islands reduce the crossing distance, time to cross, and exposure to vehicles for pedestrians. The proposed option reduces the exposure for pedestrians by 75% crossing Wairoa Avenue and 50% crossing Blair Street. There is concern that street trees limit visibility, however, this is dependent on species. This is to be determined in the detailed design phase.

• Kerb islands reduce the required crossing distance for pedestrians, increasing pedestrian safety.

• New continuous footpath treatment (CFT) at Wallis parade and Wairoa Avenue (North of Blair St) CFT’s slow down traffic in a similar way to a speed hump, making vehicles slow down to navigate the vertical rise. They also provide priority for pedestrians, as drivers must give way.

• New raised pedestrian crossing across Blair Street Raised crossings slow down traffic in a similar way to a speed hump, making vehicles slow down to navigate the vertical rise. They also provide priority for pedestrians and cyclists, as drivers must give way.

• Parking. The design has potential to increase the available parking supply by one car parking space.

• Reconfigured traffic flow on Blair Street. This design removes the right-hand turn into, and out of Wairoa Avenue from Blair Street. This allows for reduced pedestrian crossing distances and increased greenspace, as it reduces the road space required at this intersection. This also improves pedestrian and driver safety, as it removes several potential conflict points at the intersection.

• Alternative routes for these removed movements are available, these are shown below.