Residents’ joy as Bondi Post Office plans thrown out

Residents have declared a victory for the community as plans to turn Bondi Beach Post Office into shops and residential units were thrown out.

Residents celebrate the refusal of plans for the Bondi Beach Post Office.

• Car wash king’s $11.5m Point Piper plans
• $2m payment for Bondi Junction development

Residents have declared a victory for the community as plans to turn Bondi Beach Post Office into retail and residential units were thrown out.

The $5.8 million scheme was dismissed by the Waverley Local Planning Panel which deemed the development was not suitable for the site and was not in the public interest.

In particular members said the proposed block was too high and there were concerns about the impact of the loss of the post office.

An artist's impression of the now dismissed Bondi Beach Post Office development.

Members of the community have been fighting the development for many months. Among those who opposed the plans include Waverley Mayor John Wakefield, The Castle actor Michael Caton and convener of the Bondi Beach Precinct Lenore Kulakauskas.

“There was no guarantee that we would get the post office back,” Ms Kulakauskas, who is also the state Labor candidate for Vaucluse, said.

“It is a really important asset for the community. You will often see queues going out the door. It is incredibly well used.

“We’re obviously very pleaded with the decision.”

Mayor Wakefield said he was “delighted”.

“It is a local shopping area and it needs to service the needs of the community.

“It needs a post office so I’m very delighted with the decision.”

Mayor John Wakefield said the post office is a prized community asset. Picture: AAP IMAGE/ Danny Aarons

Taylor Developments Group proposed partially demolishing the heritage-listed building to make way for a four-storey structure with two basement levels of parking, ground level shops and 10 residential units.

Waverley Council received more than 1300 objections to the plans.

It is unclear if the developer will challenge the decision or return with amended plans.

The Wentworth Courier has contacted Taylor Developments Group for comment.