Controversial Bondi Junction Development Plan Narrowly Approved by Waverley Council

A controversial plan to transform Sydney's Bondi Junction into a "world-class cultural, civic and commercial hub" has narrowly passed at a council meeting after the mayor used a casting vote to push it through.

Waverley Council approved a master plan on Tuesday night that would introduce at least 3,000 dwellings and add 9,000 square metres of extra green space in Bondi Junction, in the city's east.

As part of the first phase of the project, the Oxford Street Mall would be revamped with a new 1,500-square-metre public square and a new plaza to provide seamless entry to the train station and bus interchange.

Another 10,000 square metres will be dedicated to a new "civic precinct", which promises additional community infrastructure such as a performance theatre, as well as flexible spaces for classes and workshops, and creative spaces for art, music and youth programs.

The plan had faced bitter opposition from many locals and councillors at Tuesday night's meeting, who said the process was rushed and that information about revised amendments had been withheld.

Independent councillor Steven Lewis said councillors were only given a few days to review the latest version of the complex plan before being forced to cast their votes.

"We were not given a single minute with the planners until tonight," he said.

"We've had more detailed detailed briefings on the size of the dog fence in Barracluff Park, if we were going to make it dog friendly."

Lord Mayor Will Nemesh defended the proposal, arguing it would invigorate the area while meeting housing targets.

"And we're falling well behind the eight ball despite our best efforts to meet them."

According to the council, the plan supported high-rise mixed-use development, as well as the construction of mid- to high-rise apartments, terraces, townhouses, duplexes and detached dwellings.

Of the 3,000 new homes about 10 per cent will be dedicated to affordable housing.

'Designing a suburb must work for people living in it'

Speaking at the meeting, resident Karla Burnett said she wanted more housing built but believed the plans were heavily flawed.

"Your urban design study doesn't mention school capacity once..not once..for 3,000 new dwellings," she said.

"That's what I want you to explain to my kids and to the future kids of Bondi Junction who will live in these dwellings.

"A master plan is meant to do more than mark where the housing goes. It's meant to design a suburb that works for the people who live in it."

Founder of resident action group Save Bondi Junction, Catharine Munro, told ABC Radio Sydney she was concerned the proposal would fail to deliver the public amenities required to support the additional housing.

"For example, they're knocking down three childcare centres and they're not even replacing half of the capacity that they're knocking down for childcare," she claimed.

She said she believed the plan catered more towards the commercial market in Bondi Junction, rather than the residents.

"What's been put through is something that does not meet the needs of the community and only really meets the wishes of developers who want to put in commercial office space."