Final campaign update:

The State Government’s new Low and Mid-Rise Policy has been announced.

And Bondi Village is not affected

We’re all for development, but it needs to be affordable and sustainable.
NSW Govt’s proposed ‘one size fits all’ planning policies are

Too high for Bondi

What’s next for Waverley?

Come along to this free event.

6-8pm
13 Feb 2025
High Tide Room
Bondi Pavilion

How do we balance density and affordability with liveability and nature?

We’ve partnered with the Better Cities Initiative to deliver a forum that brings together people from all over Waverley to solve the challenge of keeping our LGA - and Bondi - a great place to live, while playing its part in solving the housing crisis.

It’s a free event so RSVP now as tickets are limited.

Moderator: Wendy Harmer

Speakers include:
Sara Stace, Better Streets

Mora Main, former Waverley Mayor & Councillor and local resident

Shirley Alexander AM, Emeritus Professor and local resident

Richard Walsh, Publisher and Author, Reboot

Philip Thalis, Urban Designer and Architect

Luke Stewart, Development Planner and local resident

Iain Walker, New Democracy Foundation

Philip Graus, Architect and Urban Planner

Get the latest updates on our news page

Sign the petition

to ask for planning policies that ensure sustainable and affordable development for Bondi

I, the undersigned, request the Legislative Assembly take note of the below concerns and call on the State Government to work with Waverley Council and Community Stakeholders to set more sustainable housing targets and better housing reforms for Waverley LGA for 2024-2029.

Double the height ain’t right.

Proposed new planning policies could allow 6 to 8 storeys in residential areas of Bondi Village that are currently zoned for three, including the beachfront.

It’s not a little bit more height, it’s more than double, built in areas of single storey homes and built almost to the boundary.

Less affordable, not more.

Developers are bulldozing more affordable, heritage blocks of apartments, and replacing them with boutique blocks that are taller, more expensive and contain less homes. Bondi loses its young people and diversity. Local business is affected too.

Bondi’s more affordable homes come down. Bulldozed in 2024.

$22M penthouses go up. Current sale price across the road.

Here’s the worst part

The proposed new policies give council and community

Zero right of refusal

So when developers do this to the beachfront there’s nothing you or council can do about it.

Source: Waverley Council render of potential development

What’s the answer?

Sustainable & affordable

Why create new problems by trying to solve one? The proposed new policies try to fix affordability with no consideration for environment, community or infrastructure.

There’s plenty of room for growth within current council zonings. So let’s have development that is sustainable, affordable and works for everyone.

Well planned density

Within current zoning and council planning guidelines. Don’t just let developers loose on an iconic suburb.

Community considered

Let people have a say in their local area and make sure planning works to maintain community connection.

Good for planet

Let’s leave room for tree canopy and wildlife. And let’s not create wind tunnels and shadows that affect the beach.

Bondi already has Sydney’s

#1

Busiest bus route, the 333.

Source: Transport NSW

#2

Traffic hotspot,
Bondi Road.

Source: Splend

Most

School age children per LGA

And

6X

Sydney’s average population density

Over development means

More

Transport gridlock

More

School crowding

Less

Trees & nature

So hey, State Government, let’s also make sure infrastructure keeps up with development. Or did you forget that’s your job too?

One more thing

Who’s supporting these new planning policies in the media?

A lot of the media stories you read saying this is about affordability quote Urban Taskforce, ‘an organisation representing Australia's most prominent property developers and equity financiers’.

It has been running a media campaign calling concerned councils NIMBYs. But the truth is, Urban Taskforce and other developer advocacy groups don’t care about community. For them it’s all about profit. They said so themselves.

The media

Urban Taskforce claims this is all about affordability and anyone against it is a NIMBY

The truth

For them, development is all about profit and nothing to do with community.

So next time you read that this is about affordability, remember it’s about profit. They said so.

Sign the petition. Join a meeting. Tell your friends.

And let’s fight for affordable and sustainable development in Bondi.