Submission from Bondi Beach Precinct and Bondi Precinct for the draft Bondi Beach Park and Pavilion Plan of Management May 2013

1. Draft Bondi Beach Park &
Pavilion Plan of Management
Submission: Bondi Beach Precinct & Bondi Precinct
31 May 2013

3. SHORT TERM PLAN (STAGE 1)
5-7 years
Cars two way travel: parking meters instead of passes and gates
No access to Pavilion forecourt (except emergency vehicles and special events)
Council storage at back of Bondi Surf Club to be increased for beach rake
Access route for services and deliveries moved

4. SHORT TERM PLAN (STAGE 1)
Agree to have this at south end near promenade but
need to bear in mind the path taken by the barefoot
runners so there is no obstruction. Also would not like
to see this as a permanent structure, it should be
dismantled at end of play.
Agree with this
Agree with this
Agree with this plus find out about how the donated
wheelchair for surf access that the life guards have can
be obtained. Make this clear public knowledge.
COMMENTS:
Knotts pedestrian/vehicle share way. What does this
mean – more details needed. Is this not already
operating in this manner? Vehicle access to units in
Knotts Ave needs to be considered.

5. COMMENTS: see following page
SHORT TERM PLAN (STAGE 1)

6. COMMENTS:
Mixed views about the idea of having kiosks. Seating associated with any
kiosk would interfere with this busy pedestrian thoroughfare. If the
kiosks are for café style food no agreement for this, however re-siting the
take-away style operators currently on the Promenade to here could be
beneficial. Objection to the commercialisation of the Promenade –
concern that it would attract franchise businesses such as those on
Campbell Pde. Another concern was that the site would be cold and
windy, due to the southern aspect.
Other possible uses are bike storage, providing shaded seating (as at
Coogee), use as creative/artistic spaces as in contemporary urban design
concepts.
Don’t want to sacrifice the uniqueness of Bondi.
The Promenade after a storm

7. COMMENTS:
More detail needed to understand how
this would work. Safety issues related to service vehicle access would need to be thoroughly
researched and addressed as well as the logistics of multiple vehicles parking turning etc. Will
council vehicles also park here? Is there a space allocated for rubbish bins in this area?
SHORT TERM PLAN (STAGE 1)

8. SHORT TERM PLAN (STAGE 1)
COMMENTS:
Agreed to upgrade exercise station
Agreed to upgrade the children’s
playground, with the proviso that there is
input from parents as to the type of
equipment.
It is thought that having a sandpit in this
playground, metres from the giant sandpit that
is the beach, has not been properly thought
through.
Agreed with upgrade of toilets and amenities
Pedestrian Zone addressed later in this
document along with parking under Key Idea 1

9. COMMENTS:
• Agreed to widen ramp for access to beach
• Question whether new seating and shading
is within an existing structure or a new one?
• Question about whether the natural
contour of the landscape will be changed?
• Dimensions and more details are needed to
fully understand the plan, particularly
the correlation between the
section and planned north
elevation.
SHORT TERM PLAN STAGE 1

10. COMMENTS: See general comments on Pavilion
SHORT TERM PLAN STAGE 1

11. BONDI PAVILION

12. COMMENTS:
REINSTATE PAVILION ENTRANCE
• The majority agreed entrance from Campbell Pde would be good, but did not want the
amphitheatre demolished. The amphitheatre is a good space for shows and movies and is
desirable for containing noise (the relocation of Ben & Jerry’s Open Air Cinema from the
amphitheatre to the park a case in point.) If the amphitheatre is moved, noise and the use of
stages on the grassy areas will be a problem.
• People will still enter the beach from wherever is easier for them, particularly those exiting
buses at South and Middle Bondi.
• Question as to why the emphasis on wanting people to walk through Pavilion in its current state
with any plans for upgrading so far away?
BONDI PAVILION
FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE PAVILION:
• Plan is too vague, a lot more detail needed.
• The Pavilion needs its own separate Plan of Management rather than being lumped in with the
Beach and Parks.
• The Pavilion needs an overall Manager to co-ordinate the various departments involved.
• The Pavilion needs above all its own separate set of accounts showing all revenue and
expenditure. A question was raised about setting up a Bondi Pavilion Trust or a not for profit
organization to manage it.

13. COMMENTS (cont):
• The Pavilion needs to be restored – it is currently a neglected building.
• Prior to restoration, the Pavilion needs to be assessed by an architect specialising in
interactive spaces spanning art, architecture and urbanism
• The Pavilion needs to be kept primarily as a community oriented space.
• The Pavilion would benefit immensely from a museum/ history area.
• Other suggestions for use:
o reinstate the Turkish baths/ steam room
o reinstate the ballroom/ promote a weekly/monthly dance – Trocadero style. There
is an existing problem with Tamarama Rock Surfers having control of the bar.
Details as to the arrangement between Council and the TRS are requested.
• Overall strategic vision is lacking.
The Friends of Bondi Pavilion will be reviewing the draft for the Pavilion on Saturday 25
May 2013 between 10am and 12 midday in the Ocean Room in the Pavilion.
BONDI PAVILION

15. LONG TERM PLAN (STAGE 2)

16. COMMENTS: see next page
LONG TERM PLAN (STAGE 2)

17. COMMENTS:
Stage 1: Short term car parking
• Majority disagreed with installation of metered parking.
• Boom gates and permits to be retained. This will also prevent hoons.
• Mixed views around pedestrianisation of Pavilion forecourt. There is an historical aspect
to the way cars currently use Queen Elizabeth Drive. Supported for safety reasons.
Detailed plans of how it is going to work needed.
• The executive committees of Bondi Girls Surfriders and Bondi Longboard Club have
concerns about removing the car-park, which will greatly impact on their monthly
competition days and surfers generally. The (elevated) car-park is used as a viewing
platform for the competition and the cars which transport all the necessary gear, park
there.
• Logistical review needed to assess suitability of 2 way traffic in beach carpark, in
particular, assessing space for cars waiting for spaces, and entering and leaving spaces.
Stage 2: Underground car park
• There were mixed views around this, with the increase of green space being a
factor, although it was pointed out that very few people choose to sit at the very back of
the park.
• Concern around increasing rates to fund this facility which would appear to provide
limited benefits for the community.

18. COMMENTS:
Stage 2: Underground car park (cont)
• Concern by families, little nippers parents, surfers, etc that it would not be an
inviting way to enter the beach – going underground and having to use a lift with
assorted beach gear including surfboards. The lift would have to be big enough
to accommodate this.
• Concern about the effect on the water table – a rigorous geographical survey
would need to be done.
• Concern about the effect of excavating a sand hill and the impact on the existing
buildings there – the Pavilion and Surf Clubs – a rigorous survey needed well
before any work was even considered.
• Concerns that customers from the proposed Woolworths in the Swiss Grand
would use it, along with other shoppers, as it is more commercially sited than the
current car park which is primarily for beachgoers.
• Suggestion to keep Stage 1 Parking Plan and place the north-western car park 1
(one) level underground rather than constructing a 3 (three) level car park.
• Martin Greer suggested an alternate underground plan and supplied a concept
drawing.

19. COMMENTS: dealt with previously
LONG TERM PLAN (STAGE 2)

20. COMMENTS:
• Agree to respect Bondi’s heritage
• Unanimous vote to keep the heritage foot bridges.
LONG TERM PLAN (STAGE 2)

21. COMMENTS: dealt with previously
LONG TERM PLAN (STAGE 2)

22. COMMENTS:
• Restore and consistently maintain the existing beach shelters. Any new buildings to adhere
to heritage values.
• Other items dealt with previously.
LONG TERM PLAN (STAGE 2)

23. COMMENTS:
Much more detail required
before a comment could
be made on Knotts Ave
Walkway.
LONG TERM PLAN (STAGE 2)

24. COMMENTS:
Unanimous vote to retain
Heritage Pedestrian
Bridges
LONG TERM PLAN (STAGE 2)