Council - 15/09/2026

Topics

• Council revises Bondi Junction master-plan messaging after resident concerns
  Waverley Council has acknowledged resident concerns in its official Delivery Program reporting and committed to further engagement while continuing to describe additional housing, public space and a revitalised town centre.
  The master plan could affect housing, development, public space, business activity and the future shape of Bondi Junction.
• Waverley seeks alerts on Aboriginal land claims affecting community reserves
  Council will ask the NSW Government to notify it when Aboriginal land claims are lodged over Crown reserves under its care and is advocating for a searchable public register.
  The motion concerns transparency and future certainty for high-profile community facilities on Crown land.
• Council approves five-year Infor cloud software arrangement without tender
  Waverley Council approved a tender exemption to move its existing Infor Pathway system to a cloud subscription through June 2031, citing Infor as the sole supplier.
  It is a long-term procurement decision involving Council’s core software systems, although the contract value was not disclosed publicly.

Decisions

• Bondi Junction progress report amended
  Council adopted the six-monthly Delivery Program 2025–2029 progress report with revised wording describing the proposed Bondi Junction master plan, community concerns and further engagement with community and business groups. It also recorded the Special Entertainment Precinct as supporting music, dining and leisure in Bondi Junction and the east. The motion passed on the Chair’s casting vote after an amendment to remove the changes was lost.
  Residents will see revised public reporting about the Bondi Junction master plan, including acknowledgement of concerns and planned further engagement.
• Aboriginal land-claim notification motion amended
  Council resolved to write to the Minister for Lands and Property requesting notification when an Aboriginal land claim affects a Crown reserve managed by Council in the Waverley local government area. It also supported greater public access, searchability and transparency for land-claim information. Clauses arguing that claims affecting local surf clubs and Bondi Icebergs should be refused, and supporting legislative protection for those facilities, were removed by amendment.
  The resolution concerns the future information available about claims affecting community facilities on Crown land, including surf life saving clubs and Bondi Icebergs.
• Infor Pathway cloud software procurement approved
  In closed session, Council approved an exemption from tender to move its existing Infor Pathway licence to Infor Pathway CloudSuite Software as a Service from 31 August 2026 to 30 June 2031, on the basis that Infor Global Solutions (ANZ) Pty Ltd is the sole supplier. The General Manager or delegate was authorised to finalise the agreement.
  The decision commits Council to a long-term technology service arrangement, although the public minutes do not disclose the contract value.
• Council representatives appointed
  Councillors were appointed to the Sydney Coastal Council Group, its Executive Committee, the Sydney Football Stadium Community Consultative Committee and the Sydney Water Customer and Community Reference Group (Bondi).
  These appointments determine which councillors represent Waverley in regional, stadium and local water-service consultation forums.
• Delegates appointed for Local Government NSW conference
  The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councillors Merten, Masselos and Fabiano were nominated as voting delegates for the Local Government NSW Annual Conference in Wollongong from 22 to 24 November 2026. Councillors Westwood, Wy Kanak and Townsend were nominated as reserves, with Councillors Nemesh and Frazer as observers.
  The delegates may vote on motions affecting local government policy and advocacy across New South Wales.

Discussion

• Bondi Junction master plan
  Council’s revised progress-report wording describes a proposed master plan involving additional housing, a revitalised mall with a plaza, more public space and community infrastructure. It acknowledges resident concerns and says further engagement with community and business groups is intended.
  The wording signals that the master plan remains subject to refinement and continued consultation.
• Crown land and local community facilities
  Waverley’s surf life saving clubs and Bondi Icebergs were noted as being on Crown land subject to undetermined Aboriginal land claims. Council sought notification of claims affecting reserves it manages and backed a more searchable public register of claims.
  The issue relates to the long-term certainty and public oversight of prominent community and sporting facilities.
• Aboriginal rock carvings at Bondi Golf Course
  Council stated that the old low-hanging metal chain fence around the rock engravings site had been replaced with a lighter non-metallic chain. The site remains monitored by the Land Council, and lease controls require Land Council input into works. A broader Aboriginal Heritage Study was also noted.
  The measures are intended to reduce the risk of damage to the carvings and guide future site management.
• Sydney Water Refresh Vaucluse and Diamond Bay project
  Council officers had not yet received the minutes from the 26 August 2026 North Bondi Precinct meeting, so they were not yet aware of the concerns raised about the Sydney Water project. Officers said they could act once the concerns were formally received.
  Follow-up on local resident concerns is pending receipt of the precinct meeting information.
• Financial reporting and investments
  Council noted the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee minutes, endorsed the preparation and public notice of the 2025–26 audited financial statements, and noted the August 2026 investment report and compliance with investment requirements.
  These decisions provide formal oversight of Council’s financial reporting and investment management.

Impacts

• Further consultation is intended on the Bondi Junction master plan after resident concerns were recorded in the Delivery Program report.
• Council will seek notification of Aboriginal land claims affecting Crown reserves it manages in the Waverley local government area.
• Information about Aboriginal land claims may become more publicly searchable if the NSW Government adopts Council’s advocacy position.
• The Bondi Golf Course Aboriginal rock-carvings site has a replacement barrier and ongoing Land Council monitoring.
• Council’s response to North Bondi concerns about the Sydney Water project is delayed until meeting minutes or other details are provided.
• Council approved a long-term cloud software arrangement, with no contract value disclosed in the public minutes.

Places

• Bondi Junction (suburb and town centre)
  Subject of the master plan and Special Entertainment Precinct wording in the Delivery Program progress report.
• Waverley local government area (local government area)
  Area covered by Council’s advocacy on Aboriginal land claims and representative appointments.
• Bondi (suburb)
  Location of the Sydney Water Customer and Community Reference Group and Bondi Icebergs.
• North Bondi (suburb)
  Location of the Aboriginal rock carvings at Bondi Golf Course and the precinct raising Sydney Water concerns.
• Vaucluse (suburb)
  One of the areas covered by the Sydney Water Refresh Vaucluse and Diamond Bay project.
• Diamond Bay (locality)
  One of the areas covered by the Sydney Water Refresh project.
• Wollongong (city)
  Location of the Local Government NSW Annual Conference.
• Sydney Football Stadium (facility)
  Subject of a community consultative committee to which Council appointed representatives.

Next

• Engage with community and business groups to refine the Bondi Junction Master Plan.
  Future engagement; no date specified.
• Write to the Minister for Lands and Property requesting notification of Aboriginal land claims affecting Council-managed Crown reserves.
  Following the meeting; no deadline specified.
• Advocate for a searchable and viewable online register of determined and undetermined Aboriginal land claims.
  Ongoing advocacy; no deadline specified.
• Receive and review the North Bondi Precinct meeting minutes, then consider action on concerns about the Sydney Water project.
  When the minutes or concerns are provided to Council officers.
• Complete negotiations and execute documentation for the Infor Pathway CloudSuite subscription.
  For the subscription period from 31 August 2026 to 30 June 2031.

Extract

This is of the minutes of the Council meeting held on 15 September 2026 MINUTES OF THE WAVERLEY COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE BOOT FACTORY, SPRING STREET, BONDI JUNCTION ON TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026 Present: Councillor Will Nemesh (outgoing Mayor) (Chair) Hunter Ward Councillor Steven Lewis (newly elected Mayor) (Chair) Hunter Ward Councillor Keri Spooner (newly re-elected Deputy Mayor) Waverley Ward Councillor Ludovico Fabiano Waverley Ward Councillor Dov Frazer Hunter Ward Councillor Paula Masselos Lawson Ward Councillor Margaret Merten Bondi Ward Councillor Joshua Spicer Waverley Ward Councillor Michelle Stephenson Bondi Ward Councillor Lauren Townsend Lawson Ward Councillor Katherine Wes...