Waverley Council unveils $26.7m Bondi Pavilion plans
It’s one of Sydney’s most iconic buildings — and now Waverley Council has unveiled its second bid at upgrading the famous Bondi Pavilion, almost a year after the first attempt was scrapped following community outcry. SEE THE ARTIST IMPRESSIONS.
Waverley Council has unveiled its $26.7 million proposal to revamp the famous Bondi Pavilion while preserving its heritage facade and interiors.
The council this week submitted a development application to carry out heritage conservation works and upgrade the site’s public domain and landscaping, almost a year since it withdrew plans for a controversial redevelopment of the pavilion.
When completed the site will boast a new internal courtyard with grassed areas, additional art spaces and administration centres and a glistening heritage facade.
It comes after Mayor John Wakefield last year promised a more sensitive approach to the long-term project of upgrading the pavilion, after residents rallied against a more large-scale design endorsed by the former council.
He told the Courier he was “really proud” of the design that he said protected the pavilion’s social, historical and commercial significance.
“Basically we are restoring and preserving the building,” Cr Wakefield said. “That’s the key, that’s what differentiates this plan from the last design.
“We’ve created a flexible design that allows for various uses.”
The plans include a new colonnade wrapping around a repaved and freshly-landscaped internal courtyard and connecting with the pavilion, and the creation of two retail tenancies at ground level.
There would be a new pedestrian route from the Campbell Pde side of the pavilion via an atrium-style walkway.
The site’s theatre, music and recording studios, bar, event spaces and bathroom facilities would all be refurbished. Additions would include a new art gallery, information and box office centre, pottery room, modern showers and change rooms and a small council office.
“Overall, the proposal aims to restore the pavilion to its original form by removing recent intrusive additions, improving equitable access and quality of spaces and facilities,” the project’s environmental impact statement says.
The application seeks approval for minor demolition and excavation works to improve accessibility and functionality of the pavilion, roof replacement and facade maintenance and removal of trees to improve pedestrian access.
The amphitheatre and external courtyard stairs connecting to the upper level of the pavilion would be removed, as would the “dilapidated” additions to the rear of popular bar the Bucket List. The glass “bubble” surrounding the Bucket List would also be scrapped.
It also asks permission to remove 29 car spaces from the Park Dr carpark and dedication of 10 spaces for the pavilion and new lights to create “a safe and well lit public domain environment for visitors at night time”.
French doors would replace the glazed windows facing east and west of the pavilion on level one.
Cr Wakefield said the council was working towards starting construction in February 2020.
The council is the applicant in this proposal, and approval will come from the Sydney East Planning Panel.
The new proposal replaces the former council’s $38 million plan lodged in March 2017, which was dumped following community outcry.
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