community services · Waverley Council
Waverley backs extra Celebrating 2026 in 2026 activities, accepts Bronte pump tender
Waverley Council approved extra activities for Celebrating 2026 in 2026, adopted new street performance rules and accepted a $1.703 million tender for the Bronte Pump House Upgrade and Pump Replacement project.
Waverley Council has approved extra activities for its Celebrating 2026 in 2026 program and accepted a $1,703,363 tender for the Bronte Pump House Upgrade and Pump Replacement project at its Finance, Operations and Community Services Committee meeting at the Boot Factory in Bondi Junction on Tuesday, 5 May 2026.
The committee also adopted a new Street Performance Policy and Guidelines, endorsed council joining two veterans employment programs and appointed eight community members to the Youth Advisory Committee for two years from May 2026 to May 2028.
On Celebrating 2026 in 2026, Cr Stephenson moved the motion and Cr Nemesh seconded it. Cr Spooner moved an amendment to add a display of historical photographs at Bondi Pavilion or Waverley Library about the 1967 adoption of postcodes in Australia and its significance for postal workers. That amendment was lost on the chair’s casting vote, and the original motion was carried. The minutes record the final vote as Crs Frazer, Masselos, Merten, Nemesh, Spicer, Stephenson, Townsend and Westwood in favour, with Crs Fabiano, Lewis and Wy Kanak against.
The adopted amendment would have linked the display to the May 1967 referendum, which approved removing discriminatory constitutional references against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The new street performance policy and guidelines were adopted without dissent. The minutes do not set out the rules in detail, but the policy now governs buskers and other performers in public places.
The committee endorsed council joining the NSW Government Veterans Employment Program and the Australian Government Veteran Employment Commitment. It also put the draft Artificial Intelligence Policy on public exhibition for 28 days, subject to amendments requiring AI outputs to be explainable and interpreted and justified to stakeholders, and adding a lead-in sentence saying council will prioritise training programs that help staff use AI to enhance their skills, streamline service delivery and improve decision-making. Officers are to prepare a report to council after the exhibition period.
For the Bronte project, the committee accepted Ally Infrastructure Pty Ltd as the preferred tenderer for head contractor services for the Bronte Pump House Upgrade and Pump Replacement project under section 178(1)(a) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021. The contract value is $1,703,363 excluding GST. The general manager or delegate was authorised to enter into contract, and unsuccessful tenderers are to be notified.
The meeting lost quorum after Crs Lewis, Masselos, Spooner, Merten and Fabiano left following a vote on urgent business. The chair adjourned the meeting at 7.12pm, it reconvened at 7.40pm and closed at 8.02pm.
Reference minutes
Based on the Waverley Council Finance, Operations and Community Services Committee meeting minutes of 5 May 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Waverley Council approved additional activities in the Celebrating 2026 in 2026 program.
- The committee lost an amendment that would have added a Bondi Pavilion or Waverley Library historical photo display about postcodes and the 1967 referendum context.
- The committee adopted the Street Performance Policy and Guidelines.
- Eight community members were appointed to the Youth Advisory Committee from May 2026 to May 2028, with reserve members also approved.
- Ally Infrastructure Pty Ltd was accepted as preferred tenderer for the Bronte Pump House Upgrade and Pump Replacement project for $1,703,363 excluding GST.
- Council endorsed joining the NSW Government Veterans Employment Program and the Australian Government Veteran Employment Commitment.
- The draft Artificial Intelligence Policy was put on 28 days public exhibition with wording requiring outputs to be explainable and staff training prioritised.
Why it matters
- Residents will see more events in the 2026 celebrations program, new rules for street performers, a formal contract for Bronte works and new youth representatives, while council also changes its approach to AI and veterans employment.