A bitter housing stoush between old and new is dividing Sydney’s most iconic beach suburb, with long-term Bondi residents fearing the government’s density push will turn their neighbourhood into a version of Surfers’ Paradise, at the same time as developers are keen to cash in on the highly sought-after area.
The Bondi beachfront has been earmarked for mid-rise housing that could reach eight storeys in an area once better known for its trademark “two-up, two-down” apartments and backpacker accommodation, prompting residents to worry about the impact new builds may have on the local character.
Shirley Alexander is among the long-time residents concerned about mid-rise developments in Bondi.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
Among the residents who have raised concerns with the housing proposal is former UTS deputy vice-chancellor Shirley Alexander, who believes an influx of housing would be developed as luxury beachfront properties that would price young families – including her daughter and three grandchildren – out of Bondi.
“We’re not against development, but we want to keep our [demographic and housing] diversity,” Alexander said. “No one wants to flock to Surfers Paradise because it’s a high-rise area and not a desirable place to be.”
Up to 2400 new homes are expected to be delivered by 2029 across the Waverley council area, which includes Bondi, Bronte and parts of Vaucluse, as part of statewide rezoning reforms for town centres and transport hubs.
Michelle Stephenson, a Liberal councillor for Waverley’s Bondi ward, has suggested increasing builds in Bondi Junction, where she said high-density housing was “actually doable”.
“Bondi has a unique look and we need to hold on to that,” Stephenson said. “If we force these mammoth projects just for the sake of it, it’ll push up rents and be no good for anyone.”
Concerns raised by Bondi residents have been rubbished by Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest, who labelled them “no more than retrograded NIMBYism”.
“We can’t turn Bondi into [just] frat houses for Irish backpackers, where the street front can’t afford more than ice cream shops and pizza parlours,” Forrest said.
“Bondi is much romanticised about, but the build of the structures reveal a huge demand for renovation and renewal.”
A delegation of Waverley Council representatives held talks with NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully about proposed new builds this year, where the council raised its preference against further high-density housing by the foreshore.
The council will vote to fund an awareness campaign about the potential foreshore developments on Tuesday, which will inform its next steps for consultation with the government.
Long-standing apartments and homes have been progressively replaced by lucrative mid-rise dwellings in recent years, including an unfurnished four-bedroom penthouse one block from the foreshore which sold for $22 million last month.
Forrest said “most, if not all” the developments have improved what previously existed and believes preventing new builds would undermine Bondi’s growth.
“If you allow a place to simply rot away on the vine, then you are wasting the opportunity presented by one of the world’s best beaches,” Forrest said.
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