194 Oxford Street Bondi Junction: Westgate BJ tower decision set for September

After years of community opposition, the fate of a controversial two tower proposal for Bondi Junction is set to be determined in coming months.

Decision day looms for a contentious $38 million two tower development planned for the eastern suburbs, which residents say will overshadow Centennial Park.

The maligned project, which will stand 10 storeys tall and consist of 73 apartments and four levels of basement parking, was first touted for 194 Oxford St, Bondi Junction in 2015.

The development plans were lodged by Westgate BJ Pty Ltd, which led to a years-long battle with residents who fear the development will add to the congestion and overshadow a nearby park and buildings.

A decision on the tower plans will be made at a public determination meeting on September 11.

Save West Bondi Junction spokeswoman Lindi Glass claimed the plans didn’t meet all planning regulations for the site.

An artist impression of the proposal for 194 Oxford Street Bondi Junction. Looking east down Oxford St

“It’s a gross overdevelopment in an area that should not be developed,” Ms Glass told the Wentworth Courier.

She said the passage of the development through the state government was an example of overdevelopment being bulldozed through in the eastern suburbs.

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“It’s disempowering the local councillors and mayor in their role and responsibility, and they’re also disrespecting the needs of local business and the local community,” Ms Glass said.

The group has been fighting the plans for several years, with a 2019 rally against the development attended by Waverley Council mayor Paula Masselos and Coogee MP Marjorie O’Neill in 2019. Another rally was held earlier this year.

A Facebook post by the group said residents would continue to fight at every step against the developer’s plans to radically reshape the character of the Bondi Junction precinct.

“We’ve fought this for seven years and it sounds like a cliche but the system really is set up to allow developers to do what they like,” it stated.

The site on the corner of Nelson and Oxford streets next to Centennial Park. In 2015, when the plans were first lodged, Waverley Council controls stipulated a maximum height limit for the site as 15m.

However in 2019 the state government followed through on a rezoning – approved by the NSW Government Planning Department- which raised the maximum height limit to 36m.

The change in planning controls also increased the permissible floor space ratio and removed the heritage listing from four nearby terrace houses.

At the time, council looked to engage with the state government on its zoning rules to ensure new development on land surrounding Centennial Park didn’t negatively impact historic precincts and nearby heritage streetscapes.

“You shouldn’t be able to see high rises on the horizon from Centennial Park,” Cr Masselos said at the time.

Last October, Westgate BJ lodged plans to build above the 36m height limit, arguing the modified plans for a 38.95m building were “imperative” to facilitate equitable access to communal rooftop space on the Oxford St tower, and private open space on the Nelson St rooftop.

194 Oxford Street Bondi Junction. View of the proposal approaching Oxford Street and York Road

Waverley mayor Paula Masselos was part of a delegation which asked the Planning Minister to block the planning proposal in 2018.

Mayor Masselos told the Wentworth Courier last year the planning proposal went against “all principles that were within the Local Environment Plan.”

“The planning proposal is a blatant example of overdevelopment. I think this is an example of why planning powers should be returned to councillors,“ she said. “We are the ones who know our community.”