AusLeisure

In the wake of a concerted campaign by locals opposed to an extensive redevelopment of the Bondi Pavilion, Waverley Council looks set to abandon the $38 million plan in favour of a more "community-friendly" option.

A new Waverley Council report recommends the scrapping of a development application that had included a grand entrance and atrium, a new theatre and space for restaurants and cafes.

Instead, the Mayor of Waverley, John Wakefield, is pushing for the building to be renovated in a way that leaves it largely unchanged, and at a lower cost.

Mayor Wakefield told the ABC “we are looking at doing a much more modest renovation.”

Advising that the theatre, music room, large ballrooms and seagull room would be retrained and refurbished in their current positions, Mayor Wakefield added "I can guarantee that the community use of the Bondi Pavilion will be retained.

"The building will be renovated in much the form that you see now."

Mayor Wakefield also advised that commercial use would be concentrated and restricted to the ground floor and the new renovations on the heritage-listed building would also cost a lot less - an estimated $20-25 million.

Kilty O'Brien from the Save Bondi Pavilion campaign said it was a great day of celebration for locals who felt the redevelopment would leave them without an unofficial town centre.

O’Brian advised "it's a great lesson of what normal people banding together, working together, can achieve.

"This is a credit to the thousands and thousands of people across Waverley that took a stance on a local issue that was important to them, that worked tirelessly for an outcome.

"We live in one of the most densely populated areas in Sydney and we're lacking in community space."

The planned makeover to the pavilion, which was built in 1928, was announced by former Waverley Mayor Sally Betts in 2015.

Designed by architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer, the original proposal would have included additional exhibition spaces and outdoor amphitheatres while the first floor of the existing building was slated for a number of commercial tenancies including cafes, restaurants and function rooms.

Images: Bondi Pavilion (top) and the Tonkin Zulaikha Greer plan for the building (below).

29th September 2017 - BONDI PAVILION REFURBISHMENT PLANS TO BE AXED 

19th May 2017 - MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS DRIVING MILLIONS OF VISITS TO SYDNEY 

3rd April 2017 - WAVERLEY COUNCIL RELEASES REVISED PLANS FOR BONDI PAVILION REDEVELOPMENT

12th September 2016 - SYDNEY’S BEACHES DELIVER $2 BILLION IN SOCIAL VALUE 

2nd May 2016 - CONTROVERSIAL BONDI PAVILION REDEVELOPMENT PLAN TO GO AHEAD

18th August 2015 - BONDI BEACH AWARDED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 

18th March 2015 - SYDNEY LANDMARK THE BONDI PAVILION TO GET A $10 MILLION MAKEOVER

30th September 2014 - WAVERLEY COUNCIL ADVANCES BONDI BEACH MAKEOVER, OPENS NEW OUTDOOR GYM

9th July 2014 - PRIAVA LEADS WAVERLEY COUNCIL VENUES INTO THE CLOUD

1st May 2013 - WAVERLEY COUNCIL UNVEILS PLANS FOR BONDI BEACH MAKEOVER

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.