Waverley Council has elected Steven Lewis as its new Mayor and Councillor, Keri Spooner as Deputy Mayor, following a tied vote at last night’s council meeting, with the new Mayor declaring he will pause the implementation of the Bondi Junction Master Plan.
Due to a tie in the votes cast by Councillors for both positions at Tuesday night’s meeting, names were selected from a draw to determine the election outcome, the Council confirmed in a statement.
Following his election, the new Mayor declared he will pause the implementation of the Bondi Junction Master Plan to “revisit the concerns of residents”.
“I will consult residents, businesses and stakeholders to make the Master Plan more robust and reflective of our community needs,” he said in a statement.
The Master Plan, which was formally adopted by Council in July, plots expansive new green spaces, including an enhanced and expanded Clemenston Park, more trees and pocket parks, plus new bike and walking trails. In total, it will deliver 9,000 square metres of extra public space and see housing supply boosted by 3000 dwellings – 10% of which are earmarked as affordable.
“Second, I intend to review the proposals for the Council Chambers building. An asset as important as this cannot and should not be left vacant, nor should it be pulled down without fully funded alternatives. There are many possible community uses for the building, and these need to be considered as a matter of urgency,” said the new Mayor.
“Thirdly, I intend to ensure there is transparency, accountability and openness in all the work we do.
“Finally, I will use the upcoming State Election to lobby the government and opposition to commit funding for the upgrade of the Bondi Junction train station and bus interchange.
“If residents of Waverley are being asked to shoulder their share of the burden of greater density, they must have a transportation hub that is fit for purpose.”
Mayor Lewis was first elected to Waverley Council in 2017 and was re-elected in 2024. He is a practicing lawyer, specialising in defamation, media and commercial litigation, and is a long-time member of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.
The Mayor thanked the Waverley community for its support and acknowledged the outgoing Mayor, Will Nemesh, who led Waverley for the past two years.
