Bondi BUZZ Council applies for Interim Heritage Order for Flood Street site

Waverley Council unanimously voted to apply to NSW Heritage for an interim heritage order (IHO) for 34-36 Flood St, Bondi.

Once issued, th e IHO will provide immediate protection of the site from demolition and gives Council 12 months to undertake a detailed heritage assessment of the site to determine if it should be listed as a heritage item (local or state). A preliminary assessment by Council’s heritage officers suggests this building is of both local and state significance.

The site contains the Yeshiva College, formerly the Sydney Talmudical College, and a synagogue designed by worldrenowned architect and champion of the Modern Movement, Harry Seidler (1923-2006). It was the only religious building designed by Seidler and is important to the Jewish Community as a school, community centre, and meeting place, as well as a place of worship.

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Massel os, said Council is committed to retaining social and scarce educational infrastructure in

Waverley to support a resilient community through the provision of spaces in which people can gather and form relationships within the community.

“This historical reli gious and educational facility has served the Jewish community for more than 60 years and it is critical that this facility is not lost for this community,” Mayor Masselos said.

“We have the support of th e Seidl er Family, the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA), Docomomo Australia, and other interested parties including members of the Jewish community who want to see an IHO put in place.”

The site is zoned ‘SP2 – I nfrastructure’ and sites of this type provide crucial social infrastructure, such as education, religious and health facilities, and cultural facilities.

No application for demolition has been received but the site’s owner has lodged a Planning Proposal (PP) to amend the Waverley Local Environmental Plan 2012 by changing the zone of the site to R3 Medium Density Residential, which would allow for the development of an apartment building.

No application for demolition has been received but the site’s owner has lodged a Planning Proposal (PP) to amend the Waverley Local Environmental Plan 2012 by changing the zone of the site to R3 Medium Density Residential, which would allow for the development of an apartment building.

Council previously resolved not to support this PP, although the state department of Planning and Environment chose to allow this planning proposal to go to Gateway for exhibition and community comment. Last month council made a submission to the Department about the planning proposal with main objections including: The proposal to rezone places a significant 20th century building at significant risk

The proposal lacks st rategic merit and is contrary to actions in Council’s overarching strategic plan the Waverley Local Strategic Planning Statement 2020 to retain the ‘SP2 Infrastructure’ zone Rezoning the site woul d also undermine the Eastern City District Plan Planning Priorities E4: Fostering healthy, creative, culturally rich, and socially connected communities; and E6: Creating and renewing great places and local centres, and respecting the district’s heritage.

“Council sincerely hopes that in making its determination, the Department will take Council’s lead and refuse this planning proposal’ said Mayor Masselos.