Waverley Council planning blueprint for bringing Bondi Junction back to life

Major players are in talks, forming a plan on how best to transform Bondi Junction from a “disappointing, concrete wind-tunnel” and into the next beating heart of Sydney’s east.

The corner Bronte Road and Oxford Street entrance to Westfield Bondi Junction. Picture: John Appleyard

Discussions are underway between key stakeholders, forming a plan of attack to transform Bondi Junction from a “disappointing, concrete wind-tunnel” into the next beating heart of Sydney’s east.

On Friday, some 25 stakeholders took part in a round table hosted by Waverley Council, as part of consultation for their $600,000 Bondi Junction Masterplan, poised to be the blueprint for “once in a generation” upgrades for the civic centre.

The end goal is to bring the concrete jungle back to life, as a “global destination” for shopping, dining, and entertainment, after years of significant decline.

It marks the first time in 20 years that Bondi Junction has been the subject of significant plans, none of which have eventuated.

Among those with a seat at the table is Scentre Group — Westfield’s parent company — Meriton, developers JQZ, and Aland, and industry body Urban Taskforce, while at the helm is prominent urban design firm, Architectus as head contractor.

Entrance to Westfield Bondi Junction. Picture: John Appleyard

The object of Friday’s discussions was envisioning what the ideal future Bondi Junction could look like, and how best it could be achieved within the constraints of the area.

Urban Taskforce chief executive officer Tom Forrest said the forum was “going around the room, saying ‘what is it we want to do, what is the vision”.

Tom Forrest says Martin Place’s Ivy Precinct is an example of Bondi Junction could be revived

Mr Forrest, who advocates for the development sector, pointed to the Ivy Precinct in Martin Place as an example of what Bondi Junction could become through strategic use of space.

Mr Forrest also said increasing height limits to 100m would increase density, while not encroaching on an already crowded streetscape.

“We need to allow some flexibility to be affordable for students and first home buyers, the people we need to activate and enliven,” he said

“We need to reactivate, revitalise and renew, imagine how disappointed tourists get when the train door opens and they’re in this windswept, concrete transport jungle,. we need to get rid of the disappointment.”

Similarly, Coogee MP Dr Marjorie O’Neill said she wanted the plaza to be more than a transient “place on the way”, but a “destination” “people want to go”.

“To me personally Oxford St mall is a really important space, I’ve lived here for 40 years and it could be so much more, you look at other communities with similar spaces and they are thriving,” she said.

“It’s so well located and linked to transport, the Bondi Junction today is very different than the one I grew up in, when I was younger I feel like there was a lot more activity.”

Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said the discussions had so far shown a “really strong willingness” among stakeholders to put together a “cohesive strategy for a world class precinct”.