2024 council elections: Lead candidates for Waverley Council profiled
Candidates for Waverley Council have been named ahead of the upcoming local government election. See the list of hopefuls and the issues set to determine the election.
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The upcoming 2024 local council elections are inching closer, with less than one month before residents head to the polling booths across the state.
In Sydney’s eastern suburbs, there are 12 spots up for grabs at Waverley Council and a number of candidates, new and returning, are throwing their hats into the ring.
We have reached out to each of the candidates running for the council to find out their priorities, why they are running and what they think of high-density housing.
Waverley Council is separated into four wards – Bondi, Hunter, Lawson and Waverley.
Bondi Ward
Michaelle Stephenson - Liberal
About myself
I am a national news presenter who has proudly been a member of our vibrant Bondi community for more than 15 years. As a working mother, I understand the unique qualities that make our neighbourhood appealing for raising a family, as well as the pressures that come with our one-of-a-kind location.
I have an arts degree, majoring in politics and international relations, as well as a masters in journalism. I have worked in many of Bondi’s iconic restaurants and venues to put myself through university, giving me intimate knowledge of the important role our local businesses play in creating our fantastic culture. I am passionate about the impact council can have on our residents and community and I am dedicated to protecting our natural beauty while finding unique ways for the community to connect with our outdoor spaces.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
The Pavilion is the hub of our community, but this newly renovated sight is sadly underutilised. Parts of it have become too commercialised, with the cost to rent a space far too high for local organisations.
If elected, I plan on maximising the potential of the pavilion with an increased diverse offering of cultural events like music nights, food festivals to engage our wider community all year round.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
The Bondi to Bronte coastal walk is one of the most iconic walks in NSW and visited by more than a million people a year, yet we constantly find it in a state of disrepair. Waverley Liberals plan on improving this stunning walk by renovating parts to ensure it is never closed off while investigating options for greater accessibility.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
Bondi proves medium-density village life can be successful, but I’m a strong supporter of appropriate development for our local area. We instead need to focus on infrastructure and transport options for those already living here, with Bondi one of the most densely populated suburbs. More housing would just put pressure on an already struggling area. Our attention instead needs to be on Bondi Junction, which is the perfect place to add greater housing options without disrupting community life.
Dominic WY Kanak - Greens
About myself
As Bondi community‘s Greens councillor since 1999 and deputy mayor from 2007 to 2008 and 2017 to 2019, I have committed my working councillor-advocate life to the community I love for the past 25 years.
Born on Yuwibara Country in Mackay, Queensland, I am Torres Strait (Erub) and South Sea Islander (Epi). I’m a proud grandfather of a Murri-Yorta-Yorta family.
My policy interests include expressing my First Nations values of caring for people and country with compassion by protecting and fighting for my community. If elected, I will continue to protect and advocate for heritage, community/native title/Crown-public land and water, ecological sustainability, social justice and public health whilst supporting youth/kids, the homeless, the vulnerable and the isolated in Bondi.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
Renters’ rights and their nexus to housing affordability are key issues for the community in Bondi.
Further high- or mid-rise development in Bondi will not necessarily alleviate housing affordability for aspiring first home owners or renters in Bondi. Most new development is luxury apartments, reducing affordable options and making it virtually impossible for young people, seniors and key essential service workers to meet the costs of living in our area. Short-term ‘Airbnb’ type rentals distort the housing, home and accommodation market and do little for social and community harmony. Greens have long supported renters’ rights.
The introduction of a ban on no-grounds eviction laws in the NSW Parliament follows years of Greens campaigning on renters’ rights. I support council’s affordable housing program and will work to increase council’s affordable housing incentives and the number of in-perpetuity affordable housing premises in Waverley Council’s property portfolio.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
Waverley has a low ratio of green open space per population. It is vitally important as community recreational and contemplative space. Proposed NSW government planning changes that allow boundary-to-boundary development will limit access to sunlight and deep soil planting, and will have serious impacts on people’s well-being and mental health, putting an already strained society and its infrastructure under more pressure. Biodiversity will also suffer.
I will advocate for rebalancing development with public infrastructure capacity. Support essential services through better integrated planning, increase green space and biodiversity, buses and stormwater/sewerage infrastructure to cope with overflows exacerbated by climate change downpours. The use of private certifiers, with limited understanding of the risks of building on the Bondi-Rose Bay sandbody increases the potential for more construction collapses like the Bondi Curlewis St excavation sandslide. We call for a real return of planning powers to our local community.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
I do not support more high-rise in the Waverley Council area, as Waverley is currently already the second most densely populated municipality in NSW.
Bondi Ward already has high-rise and many older-style medium-density flats. More high-rise would replace much of the existing older medium-density housing that helps to bring young people, migrants and new citizens to the area. Bondi’s rich creative diversity and community will suffer as the area becomes ever less affordable.
Waverley’s strategic planning document (LEP) has provided extensive high-rise development at Bondi Junction alongside the bus train interchange to meet the targets set by the NSW government. An increase in high-rise will have negative impacts on schools, transport, traffic congestion and adversely affect more neighbourhood amenity.
Margaret Merten - Labor
About myself
I am an experienced content strategist and media and communications leader with 20 years’ experience in delivering award-winning multi-channel content strategies and ecosystems for some of Australia’s leading brands. I contested the 2023 state elections for the seat of Vaucluse as the Labor candidate.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
One of the biggest concerns I’m hearing from my community is the loss of affordable homes in Bondi Beach. I’ve even heard stories about developers harassing people quite aggressively to sell their properties. We don’t want Bondi to turn into another Surfers Paradise and I believe we need to keep Bondi affordable for our essential workers and young people. There’s been instances where we’ve lost entire blocks of affordable homes to a developer who wants to build a single dwelling. Have you walked around Ben Buckler lately? It’s now all high walls, locked gates and security cameras. That’s why I support the no net loss of density provision — this prevents apartment blocks being replaced by a single luxury mansion and the loss of larger numbers of affordable homes. I also want to see the threshold requirement for a social impact statement to drop from $10m to $5m. It seems every new development in Bondi somehow just comes in at $9.99m. Council needs to be able to enforce affordable housing quotas in new developments so we get that balance right.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
Traffic congestion and pedestrian safety are very big issues from Bronte to Bondi Junction to Bondi Beach and Dover Heights. While there’s complexity with some roads being under state jurisdiction - such as Bondi Road - versus local roads, congestion is getting worse. Some simple and healthy solutions are to implement the Safe Walking to School program. This approach encourages parents and kids to walk to school and leave the car at home. Any local will tell you that after peak hour/school run, the traffic tends to calm down until school pick-up time and business peak hour. This emphasis on walking also creates the opportunity to identify and improve pedestrian crossings, kerbs and gutters and general mobility for the community. It also offers better health outcomes. We would work closely with local schools and the community to implement this scheme. And anything that reduces cars on the roads also helps reduce carbon emissions and supports the environment.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
Waverley is already one of the most dense local government areas in Australia and is comparable to London. We need to do our fair share to address the shocking housing crisis we face after 10 years of Liberal inaction at both federal and state levels of government. In Waverley, we already have medium- and high-density housing. In Bondi Beach, many new developments are now four storeys. We also have a lot of older style flats which include more affordable housing. The challenge is to get this mix right and halt the loss of the affordable housing stock so that essential workers, older people and young people can still afford to live in Bondi close to their families. The worst outcome for Bondi would be for it to become a luxury enclave that shuts out the diversity that makes Bondi such a special place.
Hunter Ward
Steven Lewis
About myself
I was first elected to Waverley Council in 2017 and was re-elected in 2021. I am a commercial litigation lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience and principal of a city law firm. I also have post-graduate qualifications in urban studies. My interests are urban planning, urban design and transport.
As chair of Waverley Council’s Strategic Planning & Development Committee, I have ensured the planning instruments governing development in Waverley do not open the door to inappropriate development.
Married with three children, my family has lived in Waverley for five generations. I have experienced firsthand the changes in our community, the increased density and congestion and runaway property prices.
I have had a lifetime commitment to community service. I am a member of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. As a lawyer, I have run a number of landmark cases fighting racial vilification. I continue to be an active voice in our community.
What are the major issues in Hunter Ward?
In a word, congestion. With limited road access, increased density as a result of new developments is making getting in and out of Hunter Ward more and more difficult.
Boats left on streets. There needs to be a better way to regulate boat parking on our streets. Residents have limited off street parking and increased demand is making finding an on street parking spot harder and harder.
Military Road issues need to be addressed. First, there is an urgent need to install a pedestrian crossing at Dudley Page Reserve so children and families can safely cross. Second, pinch points are creating traffic congestion, especially in summer. The verges are wide enough to allow for further road widening at specific points using culverts so as to allow traffic to pass without loss of on-street parking.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
Loss of affordable housing stock. The lure of seaside living and booming land values has meant developers are moving in and knocking down residential blocks of flats to create luxury developments with fewer apartments. Older blocks and semis being demolished to create massive luxury single dwellings.
Not only are we seeing a reduction in the amount of affordable housing but it is also making Waverley an increasingly unaffordable place for young people and families to rent. Our beachside suburbs should not be turned into wealthy enclaves. We have to ensure Waverley retains its cultural and community diversity.
Do you support high-density housing in Hunter?
No. Waverley is already one of the most densely populated LGAs in Australia. Waverley also suffers from limited road access. While higher density in Bondi Junction around the train station makes sense, it is totally inappropriate across Waverley and especially in Hunter Ward.
No attention has been given to the consequences increased housing density. There is already an acute shortage of public schools particularly high school places in the Eastern Suburbs. The state government refuses to consider building a new high school and relying on private schools is unrealistic especially in the current cost of living crisis. Public bus transport is running at capacity especially in peak hour and delays will only get worse as higher density will mean greater demand as well as more cars on our roads.
William Nemesh - Liberal
About myself
I was first elected to Waverley Council in 2017 and have lived in Hunter Ward almost my entire life. I am passionate about preserving our unique and stunning natural and built environment. I bring a wealth of community and professional experience having worked within both state and federal government as well as in the Jewish community. I have served on the boards of both Emanuel Synagogue and Courage to Care.
Understanding the importance of community, I hold a keen awareness of the local issues impacting our residents including cost of living pressures and the housing crisis. In particular, I believe that we can and should sensitively deliver more housing so that those like me who are under 35 can still choose to live or rent in our area without being priced out of the market.
Feeling so passionately about this issue, I recently completed postgraduate qualifications at university in City Planning. I am committed to improving accessibility to our open green spaces and have successfully championed upgrades at various parks and reserves across our local area.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
A major issue in Hunter Ward is traffic congestion particularly in our local Rose Bay streets. This is the result of both the current density and the narrow streets, which make it challenging to manoeuvre vehicles around and through. I and the Waverley team will address this issue by introducing passing zones in consultation with residents to ease traffic flow and provide safe places for oncoming traffic to divert.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
A major issue across the Waverley LGA is how council spends the rates from our ratepayers. Every major infrastructure project under Labor/Greens has significantly blown its budget. This has created waste and lost revenue, which instead should have been spent on core council services. I and the Waverley Liberals would be fiscally prudent managers of council’s budget. We would spend money and increase services that relate to core essential services and not dip into our reserves to pay off deficits.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
Housing is a critical issue which requires solutions at all levels of government. I want to make it easier for everyone to live in Waverley and for existing residents and their families to stay, by promoting appropriate development whilst protecting the character of our suburbs. High-density is only appropriate in areas which have high accessibility transport such as train stations. Therefore, I only support high-density housing in Bondi Junction.
Miriam Guttman-Jones - Independent
About myself
I wish to begin by saying that I am not new to council. Between 2008-2017 I was the only independent on Waverley Council and, between 2011 to 2012, I served as the deputy mayor. I was and continue to be a true independent, and I am not a member of any political party. I am standing again as a candidate because many residents have been asking me to do so for quite some time. In the current political climate, I decided to step up to the plate. As I see it, local government is for local issues.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward and how do you wish to address it if elected?”
As a lifelong resident of Hunter Ward, what affects the residents affects me as well.
What I hear from many residents is the issue of traffic flow, especially in those streets that also join Old South Head Rd. This issue also affects me greatly. I know that it is a complex issue and something that cannot be fixed overnight. However, should I be successfully elected, one of my first motions to council will be to establish a full and comprehensive investigation as to how to mitigate the problems of traffic flow. This will most probably also include working with the state government as Old South Head Rd is a state road.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
I would have to begin with the cliched answer of overdevelopment.
However, what I am hearing from residents is not so much about the overdevelopment but the lack of onsite parking in these developments, creating a lack of parking in the surrounding streets.
Should I be elected, I will put forward a motion that council look at its LEP, especially our protocols in relation to onsite parking and ensure that these protocols increase the parking on new developments before they are even lodged.
Other issues that affect the entire LGA are issues of services. Our rates have increased but residents do not feel that they are getting more “bang for their buck”.
I intend to look into this and I want services increased, and I already have a plan as to which services I want increased.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
It’s not the high-rise development that is the issue, but the lack of onsite parking on these developments. New developments are inevitable, but more consideration must be given to the impact that these developments have on the existing environment and the residents, both during the construction phase and after the development has been completed. This applies even more so to Hunter Ward due to the compact geography of Hunter Ward. As already stated, what affects the residents also affects me.
Lawson Ward
Paula Masselos - Labor
About myself
I have been a councillor for 12 years, five of those as Waverley mayor. I am a longstanding resident of more than 30 years, and the managing director of Embrace Society which is a multicultural communications agency. I was previously the head of SBS Radio, a community relations commissioner, and chair of Carnival Multicultural Arts Festival. I was also formerly on the National Women’s Advisory Council and Ethnic Television Review Panel which developed the policy model for SBS Television. I currently chair council’s Multicultural Advisory Committee, Reconciliation Action Plan Advisory Committee, The Housing Advisory Committee, the Arts, Culture and Creativity Committee and the Waverley Traffic Committee.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
We have commenced work on the revitalisation of Bondi Junction with a design competition to make Bondi Junction a destination. We will develop the Bondi Junction 2050 vision, co-designed with residents and businesses, to make Bondi Junction a vibrant place where families and friends can share an evening meal, and noise is attenuated to reduce impacts upon neighbouring residents. We will develop Spring St as an innovation hub that will drive high-quality jobs close to where people live. Our vision for Bondi Junction is an environmentally sustainable, six-star green-rated space, that is safe for all our community, and is an attractor.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
Traffic congestion continues to be a major challenge in Waverley, especially near schools during drop off and pick up times. Co-designing with our school aged children, we will develop a network of interconnected safe school walking routes, and implement the necessary infrastructure requirements to deliver this network. We will work with schools to help incentivise walking to school such as walking cubs and rewards. In addition to reducing traffic congestion around schools, there are many documented health and wellbeing benefits and enhanced school performance as a result of walking.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
Waverley LGA is one of the most density populated LGAs in Australia, with many buildings already medium- to high-density. We must fight to keep our existing density, especially older more affordable units, and stop the aggregation of units/buildings into single of fewer luxury dwellings. This trend reduces our affordable housing supply and increases the cost to buy. We must also stop our existing affordable housing stock being demolished and replaced with unaffordable units.
Katherine Westwood - Liberal
About myself
I have lived in Waverley for more than 20 years. My husband and I have raised a family of four here, all attending local schools and clubs. When our children were young, together with a fellow school mother, I founded the Dinner Ladies, a home delivered dinner service, in the garage of her home.
Both the family and the business have thrived, and I would now like to bring all the experience I have gained to serve on Waverley Council. I will bring an entrepreneurial spirit, a can-do attitude, and a deep knowledge of the Waverley community to my role.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
The biggest issue in Lawson Ward is the current state of Bondi Junction. Under the Labor and Greens controlled council, Bondi Junction has been left to stagnate; for a major commercial centre in one of the most visited parts of Sydney it’s an embarrassment. The Waverley council area is one of the most beautiful municipalities in the world - and, as a matter of urgency, Bondi Junction should reflect this.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
We need a holistic plan to create an environment where people want to spend time; through events, lighting, planting, dining and entertainment options. Through collaborations with local businesses, and the establishment of an entertainment zone, Bondi Junction should not just be a transport interchange and a high-density living zone: it should be a destination where people enjoy spending time during the day, and at night.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
To solve the housing crisis and help young people into their own homes, we most definitely need to build more homes. This, however, needs to happen in appropriate areas, like Bondi Junction – and when it occurs in other areas, it needs to be done with consideration for local heritage and existing densities.
Mora Main - Greens
About myself
I have lived in the Charing Cross Conservation Area since 1984, served as its precinct convenor for over a decade and had three terms as a councillor for Lawson Ward. I am and have been a staunch advocate for heritage conservation. I have utilised council to strengthen the community’s voice against rampant overdevelopment.
After a long career with NSW Housing Department as a landscape architect and urban designer, I am well-placed to understand council’s strategic planning and how to navigate complex development applications.
My work with NSW Nature Conservation Council planning working group has informed me of the importance of enhancing our urban tree canopy while maintaining local biodiversity.
I am a founding and continuing member of the Fred Hollows Foundation, and organise Aboriginal Medical Service fundraisers - both of which have been incredibly fulfilling.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
It is very difficult to only pick one, but here are three. Bondi Junction Mall has become a transit point when it should be revitalised as a destination point. The village of residents in towers deserve more social infrastructure like an evening restaurant precinct, which the mall is well placed to provide.
Saving the War Memorial Hospital grounds is essential as it is part of a major wildlife corridor. Despite Uniting saying it will plant more trees, this does not take into account that it takes a hundred years for these replanted trees to grow to the majestic forms of the large fig trees on site.
I would also revisit council’s Charing Cross Street “upgrade”. The narrowing of Bronte Road creates a safety risk on a major public transport route. The streetscape plans need improvement and should be reviewed.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
“The climate challenges ahead need Greens thinking on your council.”
If we don’t address global warming, we are going to lose our beautiful beaches through sea level rise and storm surges.
The management of the effects of unpredictable weather, storms and heat on our community with parks, trees, coastal care and biodiversity improvements.
Helping to reduce community emissions to net zero is paramount.
Decreasing use of fossil fuels in all forms of transport. Active transport instead of cars. Recycling buildings instead of demolition. This prevents wastage of embodied energy that is locked into the existing buildings. When removal is essential, utilising more waste materials recovery
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
There are more ways to solve the housing crisis than increased densities.
We already have high-density housing in much of Lawson ward. Limits of water, stormwater and sewage infrastructure are real.
Many people now work from home, making office space less necessary. Rather than preventing people from working from home (Minns government yet to be gazetted state environmental planning policies), office workers should be encouraged to work from home and these office buildings ought to be converted into residential housing. With 25 per cent being affordable in perpetuity, capped at 25 per cent of their income for essential workers: nurses, teachers, firies, retails, service, police, cleaners, etc.
Airbnbs in residential properties in Lawson Ward are adversely affecting potential full time residents ability to afford to live and work here. We need legislation to address this. Similarly, a tax on empty housing would stop land banking and foreign money laundering that is ruining our housing infrastructure.
Waverley Ward
Ludovico Fabiano - Greens
About myself
I have lived with my partner Robyn in Bondi for more than 30 years. This would be my second term as a councillor for Waverley. Robyn and I are happy grandparents of two, and responsible dog owners. You will often see us walking the dogs - Bob and Blue - through our beautiful municipality, or taking the children to the beach.
I love the Waverley community and know many locals from my 15 years as South Bondi Tamarama Precinct Convenor. I am conversant with local issues, council structures, controls, and residents’ concerns. I live and breathe Waverley Ward: its streets, parks, sporting fields, public buildings and heritage precincts. I know its current challenges and those facing us in the future.
My long and fulfilling career in Quality Operation management and regulatory affairs, has given me unique insights into improving the operations of our council.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
More high-rise developments along Bondi Road will change much of the heritage character along the shopping strip, overshadow our shops, and potentially affect the success of our local shops. The Greens will defend local planning and heritage controls and resist the NSW government’s rezoning plans allowing high-rise. Providing more affordable housing for local key workers can be done through the use of council-owned land to build publicly owned homes without causing a significant loss of amenity in our area.
Other key issues include: taking local action on climate change; measures to help relieve cost of living pressures; protecting our beaches, parks and biodiversity; opposing racism and discrimination; increased support for artistic, cultural and community life; and increased transparency of council decision-making.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
Ensuring our community is sustainable, harmonious and liveable.
Council must continue to expand its electric vehicle charging locations. Council has a net zero emissions target for 2030 and the next challenge is to work with the community so that the whole LGA becomes a net zero emissions community. We want to extend support for solar panels and battery storage for rental properties and strata apartments, with walking, cycling or public transport promoted as ways to get around.
We need more shade trees to help deal with increased temperature due to climate change. Protecting our beaches and biodiversity in our parks is also essential, as is decreasing our waste footprint through a food organics and garden organics (FOGO) service, and reducing unnecessary consumption with repair cafes. I support more community gardens to help reduce food transport distances.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
I do not support further high-rise in our area. Waverley currently has the second highest population density of all the municipalities in NSW.
Waverley ward already has medium density and is an area where many families live on small blocks with low rise flats, semis and terrace buildings with space for gardens and trees. Site consolidation and high-rise development would destroy the human scale of our area.
Waverley’s strategic planning document (LEP) has provided extensive high-rise development at Bondi Junction alongside the bus train interchange to meet the targets set by the NSW government. Any significant increase in high rise elsewhere would have serious impacts on schools, transport and other infrastructure at the cost of the Waverley community.
Axel Vigna - Independent
About myself
I’m a local beekeeper and proud to call Tamarama home.
As the lead candidate of our independent group for the Waverley Ward, I am passionate about making a meaningful impact on our community. I hold a master’s degree in wealth management and sustainability, which equips me with the knowledge and skills to address some of the most pressing issues we face today. My key focus areas include advancing sustainability and achieving net zero, tackling the cost of living crisis, and ensuring council transparency, efficiency, and consistency. Building a stronger, more connected community is at the heart of everything I do, and I am committed to making Waverley an even better place to live for all of us.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
One of the major issues I’ve identified in our ward, which is also a concern across much of Australia, is the lack of local renewable energy solutions. Our community would greatly benefit from the installation of community batteries. These batteries would allow residents with solar panels to store and sell their excess energy, creating a more sustainable and self-sufficient local energy system. By enabling other community members to purchase this stored energy at a discounted rate, we can reduce reliance on the main grid and lower energy costs for residents. This initiative not only promotes renewable energy use but also fosters a stronger, more connected community focused on sustainability and resilience. If elected, I will work to make this vision a reality, ensuring our ward leads the way in local renewable energy innovation.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
A significant issue I’ve identified in our council is the growing prevalence of short-term rentals, which is beginning to disrupt our local community. Preserving and strengthening our community is vital to maintaining the unique character that makes Waverley special. To address this, I would advocate for stricter regulations on short-term rentals, particularly by enforcing limits on occupancy periods for investment properties. This approach would help ensure that more properties remain available for long-term rentals, providing stability for residents and fostering a stronger, more connected community. By taking these steps, we can protect Waverley’s identity while addressing the housing challenges that are affecting so many.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
The cost of living crisis is a significant challenge that requires careful and strategic solutions. While I recognise the importance of increasing housing availability, I do not believe that high-density housing is the right solution for the Waverley LGA. My priority is to ensure that no development application (DA) will be approved if it results in a net loss of dwellings. It is essential to safeguard the unique character, heritage, and community spirit that define Waverley. We must pursue development that enhances our community while preserving its distinct identity and ensuring that any changes contribute positively to the overall wellbeing of our residents.
Keri Spooner - Labor
About myself
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
Waverley Ward is a very beautiful and mainly residential area. Traffic congestion and pedestrian safety are major concerns for residents. On weekdays the roads can become very busy particularly at school drop off and finish times and on weekends the crowds going to beaches can make it difficult to safely cross streets. More needs to be done to slow traffic, ensure efficient public transport and facilitate safe crossing of our roads. We need to invigorate the Safe Walking to School program, but indeed we need to identify and address all of the barriers to everyone, not just the school children walking and taking public transport in our area in preference to using private vehicles. We must work with other levels of government and with key stakeholders in the private and not-for-profit sectors to ensure this occurs.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
Across the Waverley LGA, environmental issues are a major concern. Our residents are genuinely and deeply worried about the future of our planet. They know that waste and pollution must be radically reduced. They are concerned about the huge volumes of water that have descended on the area over this year and they can see the impact on their homes. We must reduce our waste and the introduction of food organics and garden organics is a further step in the right direction. We need to keep rolling out and both facilitating and providing more electric vehicle chargers, encouraging all alternatives to private transport, planting more native trees, nurturing our small birds, insects and bees, and we simply must do more to reach net zero by 2035
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
We are already the second most densely populated local government area in Australia and our population density will continue to rise. Residents love this area and they want their children to be able to grow up and live here too. We need to be smart about how we do this. To start with, we need to stop the actual reduction in the number of residences that is occurring right now with developers and extremely wealthy people combining separate apartments and houses to create their grand estates! We need more mixed housing in our area to met the growing numbers of people living alone and seeking smaller homes. We need more semis and townhouses throughout our local government area so residents have more choices.
Joshua Spicer - Liberal
About myself
I am an experienced chartered accountant with a background in audit and forensic accounting. I have extensive experience working with both government and private sector enterprises. Growing up in Waverley, I attended Rose Bay Secondary College and have been active in advocating for council motions that are important to our community. I bring spirit, energy, and fresh ideas to the council. My perspective as a younger resident ensures that Waverley maintains its vibrancy for the next generation.
What have you identified as a major issue in your ward, and how would you address it if elected?
A major issue in Waverley Ward is the need to revitalise the streetscape of Bondi Rd. As a key thoroughfare, Bondi Rd has not received the upgrades and attention it deserves resulting in an outdated and less vibrant streetscape.
I plan to revitalise Bondi Rd by adding more greenery and improving footpaths. This will create a more vibrant and welcoming streetscape that enhances the experience for everyone. By focusing on these improvements, we can support local businesses and ensure Bondi Rd continues to be a great place for both residents and visitors.
What have you identified as a major issue in the Waverley LGA, and how would you address it if elected?
A major issue across the Waverley local government area is the lack of transparency and accountability in how the council spends ratepayers’ money. Over recent years, we’ve seen significant budget blowouts on infrastructure projects under the current administration, leading to wasted resources and a reduction in essential services.
As a chartered accountant, I, along with the Waverley Liberal team, will prioritise fiscal responsibility and transparency. We will ensure that ratepayers’ money is accounted for and focused on delivering core essential services. Our goal is to restore trust in the council’s financial management by ensuring that ratepayers’ money is spent wisely.
Do you support high-density housing in your area?
Housing is a significant issue that requires a balanced and thoughtful approach. My priority is to ensure that Waverley remains a place where existing residents and their families can continue to live in the area and see a future living here. As a young professional, I understand the challenges of finding suitable housing, which is why I believe that high-density housing should be concentrated in areas like Bondi Junction, where public transport infrastructure can support it. For the rest of Waverley, I advocate for development that respects the unique character of our suburbs and the needs of our community.
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