Strategic Planning and Development Committee - 10/03/2026

Key decisions

• 34–36 Flood Street, Bondi planning proposal rejected
  Council did not support the planning proposal proceeding to Gateway Determination, citing lack of strategic and site-specific merit, precedent risks, infrastructure pressure, inconsistency with the Bondi Junction Master Plan boundary, and likely traffic and parking impacts.
  Residents near Bondi may see no immediate rezoning uplift at this site and fewer associated traffic, parking and density impacts.
• Flood Risk Management Study and Plan adopted
  Council adopted the Flood Risk Management Study and Plan and related Waverley Development Control Plan 2022 Amendment No. 6 flood-related controls.
  This affects future development assessment and flood planning across flood-affected parts of Waverley.
• Bondi Junction Special Entertainment Precinct controls adopted
  Council adopted Waverley Development Control Plan 2022 Amendment No. 6 for the Bondi Junction Special Entertainment Precinct, adopted a working group terms of reference, appointed councillor members, and approved a grant application.
  This may shape nightlife, entertainment activity, and public domain management in Bondi Junction.
• Draft Walking Waverley Strategy sent to public exhibition
  Council approved public exhibition of the Walking Waverley Strategy 2025–2035 for 28 days, with a further report to follow.
  Residents will be able to comment on future walking improvements, pedestrian priorities and street accessibility planning.
• Community Improvement District process started for Bondi Junction
  Council resolved to seek gazettal of Bondi Junction as a potential Community Improvement District, consult stakeholders and businesses, and receive an outcome report by June 2026.
  This could lead to a new business improvement model affecting Bondi Junction services, activation and local economic planning.
• Coastal Reserves Plan of Management updated after consultation
  Council noted consultation outcomes and directed updates to the draft plan and master plans, including removing any provision for night-time sports field lighting at Rodney Reserve and considering two heritage interpretation options.
  This affects future management of coastal reserves, especially Rodney Reserve, including lighting and heritage planning.
• General update to Waverley LEP progressed
  Council finalised a planning proposal to amend the Waverley Local Environmental Plan 2012, with specific changes to clause 4.3 and retention of current clauses 4.3(d) and 6.14, and decided to re-exhibit the draft Display of Goods on the Footpath Policy and Guidelines for 28 days.
  This may affect local planning controls and how businesses use footpaths, with another opportunity for public comment on the display of goods policy.
• Confidential Bondi Junction state significant development matters progressed
  In closed session, Council noted the apt.Residential state significant development proposal on Oxford Street and Spring Street, authorised direct negotiations about possible inclusion of Council-owned land at Rowe Street and Grosvenor Lane, and requested further updates and reports.
  This could influence major redevelopment, pedestrian access and public domain outcomes around Bondi Junction transport interchange.

Important topics

• Submission on NSW strategic planning reforms
  Council approved a submission on A New Approach to Strategic Planning and the draft Sydney Plan, including content from a previous mayoral minute on NSW planning reform.
  This shapes Council's advocacy on long-term housing and planning policy affecting the area.
• Flower bike wands approved for two streets
  Council approved installation of off-the-shelf flower tulip bicycle wands in Henrietta Street, Waverley and Spring Street, Bondi Junction, and continued support for a UNSW design project for recycled plastic native-design bike wands.
  Cyclists and pedestrians may see safety and delineation changes on these streets.

Resident impacts

• The Flood Street Bondi rezoning proposal was refused, reducing the chance of immediate uplift and associated local traffic and parking pressure.
• New flood planning controls will influence development rules and risk management in affected parts of Waverley.
• Residents can comment on the draft Walking Waverley Strategy during a 28-day exhibition period.
• Night-time sports field lighting was removed from planning for Rodney Reserve.
• Bondi Junction may move toward a Community Improvement District model, with consultation to occur before further decisions.
• Special Entertainment Precinct controls in Bondi Junction may affect nightlife settings, local business activity and amenity.
• Major redevelopment discussions around Oxford Street, Spring Street, Rowe Street and Grosvenor Lane may affect access and public domain outcomes near the transport interchange.

Places affected

• Bondi Junction (suburb/centre)
  Special Entertainment Precinct adoption, potential Community Improvement District, bike wand installation, and confidential state significant development matters.
• 34–36 Flood Street, Bondi (development site)
  Planning proposal was not supported to proceed to Gateway Determination.
• Rodney Reserve (reserve)
  Draft coastal reserves plan updated to remove any provision for night-time sports field lighting and consider heritage interpretation options.
• Henrietta Street, Waverley (street)
  Approved location for flower tulip bicycle wands.
• Spring Street, Bondi Junction (street)
  Approved location for flower tulip bicycle wands and part of confidential development context.
• Oxford Street, Bondi Junction (street/project area)
  State significant development proposal by apt.Residential noted by Council.
• Rowe Street and Grosvenor Lane, Bondi Junction (council-owned land/project area)
  Potential inclusion in direct negotiations to improve accessibility and pedestrian connectivity.
• Coastal reserves (service area/project area)
  Plan of Management and master plans progressed following consultation.

Next steps

• Write to submitters about the Waverley LEP general update decision
  After the meeting decision
• Re-exhibit the draft Display of Goods on the Footpath Policy and Guidelines
  For 28 days
• Prepare a follow-up report on the footpath display policy after exhibition
  After the exhibition period
• Notify the proponent of Council's decision on 34–36 Flood Street, Bondi
  After the meeting decision
• Publicly exhibit the draft Walking Waverley Strategy
  For 28 days
• Prepare a report on the Walking Waverley exhibition outcomes
  After the exhibition period
• Consult stakeholders and local businesses on the Bondi Junction Community Improvement District proposal and report back
  By June 2026
• Report the draft Coastal Reserves Plan of Management to Council before public exhibition, and provide updates and further reports on the apt.Residential negotiations
  Before exhibition for the coastal plan; during and after negotiation steps for the Bondi Junction development matter

Extracted minutes text

This is of the minutes of the Strategic Planning and Development Committee meeting held on 10 March 2026 MINUTES OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT THE BOOT FACTORY, SPRING STREET, BONDI JUNCTION ON TUESDAY, 10 MARCH 2026 Present: Councillor Michelle Stephenson (Chair) Bondi Ward Councillor Will Nemesh (Mayor) Hunter Ward Councillor Keri Spooner (Deputy Mayor) Waverley Ward Councillor Ludovico Fabiano Waverley Ward Councillor Dov Frazer Hunter Ward Councillor Steven Lewis Hunter Ward Councillor Paula Masselos Lawson Ward Councillor Margaret Merten Bondi Ward Councillor Joshua Spicer Waverley Ward Councillor Lauren Townsend Lawson Ward Councillor Katherine We...