Revitalising Australia’s Busiest Beach

By Sarah Healey on June 5, 2013 in News

Bondi is set to receive its biggest facelift in decades as part of Waverley Council’s ten-year plan of management for the park, beach and pavilion. The bold new plan will see the landscape morph from a concrete jungle into a green and open space, and the iconic pavilion rejuvenated to its former glory for both locals and tourists to enjoy.

Council is putting the draft concept plan to the community for feedback. It includes ideas such as swapping the beachside car park on Queen Elizabeth Drive with a multi-storey underground car park that would make way for more recreation space, trees and shade arrangements. The rear of the historic pavilion would be reinstated and opened up to Campbell Parade.

Other essential concepts include more facilities for children including a beginners’ skate park and an upgraded playground. Kiosks and shade shelters will be cut into the promenade, there will be more toilet facilities, an improved fitness station and a permanent beach volleyball area at the south end of the beach.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said a variety of factors were taken into account when the concepts were created because of the multitude of reasons people come to Bondi.

“We were conscious of preserving Bondi’s heritage and character while finding ways to enhance and boost its cultural vitality,” Cr Betts said.

“Council has done the technical work, researched the sites and actively involved the community and interest groups. Together, working with independent experts, we have come up with a concept plan for these sites. The result is a 15 per cent increase in recreation and green space, no reduction in parking and improved facilities and access – all while keeping Bondi’s unique character.”

With Bondi Beach being the third most popular Sydney tourist attraction after the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, navigating through the best ways to upgrade it wouldn’t be the most enviable task, especially when Council needs to take into consideration the immediate impact on the residents.

Waverley Councillor John Wakefield pointed out that the single biggest issue is the proposed car park.

“There are two aspects which concern me. One is the traffic generation and its impact on the already congested local streets and on Bondi Road. The other issue with the car park is financial. The car park will require a large capital works program – many millions of dollars of ratepayers’ money. Is it worth it? Will it pay a return on investment? Wouldn’t the money be better spent on cleaning up the streets of Bondi?” he said.

Councillor Ingrid Strewe has similar apprehensions.

“The long-term plan for a large underground car park is counter to Council policy of not encouraging car use and will be expensive as it will be in the water table. It looks to me as if it destroys the heritage bridges as they are not on any plans and I could not support this,” she said.

Long-term resident and Bondi lifeguard Robert Yaldwyn was more excited about the proposed changes.

“I think it’s a great idea, as long as they do it for the local community so it’s a benefit for everyone that lives here, and not just for the tourists,” he said. “There needs to be more amenities for the kids. The playground, places to eat, the showers and the public toilets all need to be more accessible for children.

“The underground parking I have no problem with. Bondi through the summer months is at its capacity anyway. If they build underground parking it would free up the whole lane where people park right along the front of Campbell Parade and up Bondi Road.”
Waverley Council encourages the community to have a say about the draft concepts for the Bondi Beach, Park and Pavilion Plan of Management. To have your say, or for more information, visit www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/bondipom.