Waverley Council to consider fate of Bondi footbridge used in terror attack

The future of the pedestrian footbridge at the centre of the Bondi Beach terror attack will be debated by Waverley Council tonight (Thursday), as community division continues over whether the structure should remain, be removed, or be replaced.

The northern pedestrian footbridge crossing Bondi Park is set to be discussed at a special council meeting on Thursday night. The heritage-listed bridge was used by the father-and-son gunmen during the December 14 antisemitic attack that killed 15 people and injured dozens more on the first night of Chanukah.

Council last month acknowledged there was a wide range of views on the bridge’s future, including calls for its removal, retention, or modification as part of a memorial response. It said any final decision would require consultation with the Jewish community, the broader Waverley community, the families of victims, and the NSW government.

Thursday’s meeting will also consider a structural report commissioned last year which found that both the northern pedestrian bridge and a southern pedestrian bridge crossing Park Drive had reached the end of their useful lives and would require replacement within several years.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has expressed his personal view that the footbridge should be demolished, describing it as a “ghoulish reminder” of the attack.

“My personal view is that it would be better to knock down, but it’s the council’s responsibility, and I understand they’re speaking with the victims and their families, and I think they should have the final say,” Minns said.

“I would just hate it to be a ghoulish reminder or even exploited by reprehensible people in the future,” he added. “We can’t allow one of the most beautiful places on Earth to be remembered forever and only as a place of horrible terrorism because it’s so much more than that.”

In a mayoral minute to be considered on Thursday, Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said the future of the northern footbridge should be assessed alongside plans for a permanent memorial in Bondi Park.

“The December 14 attack has had a profound and lasting impact on those directly affected, on the Waverley community, and especially on our Jewish community,” Nemesh said. “Council remains committed to honouring the victims, supporting survivors, and ensuring our response is thoughtful, respectful, and community led.”

If the mayoral minute is supported, council staff will be directed to prepare a report outlining the costs, timelines, and approval processes for the replacement or restoration of both heritage-listed pedestrian bridges. Any final decision would be made at a later date.

The bridge discussion forms part of a broader set of measures to be considered by the council in response to the attack. Councillors will also consider nominations to the Prime Minister’s Special Honours List to posthumously recognise Boris and Sofia Gurman and Reuven Morrison for their bravery in attempting to stop the alleged gunmen.

Council will also consider awarding Keys to the City, formally known as Lifetime Waverley Beach Passes, to Ahmed al-Ahmed, who tackled and disarmed one of the alleged attackers; Gefen Bitton, who was shot three times during the attack; and Leibel Lazaroff, who provided emergency aid to wounded police officer Scott Dyson, using his own shirt as a tourniquet.

Other items on Thursday’s agenda include a civic function to thank first responders, dedicating mural panels along the Bondi Beach Sea Wall promenade to community artwork for 12 months, and an exhibition at Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery reflecting the community’s artistic response to the tragedy.

Families of the 15 people killed in the attack have been invited to attend the meeting.

As the Waverley Council convenes amid ongoing grief in the community and beyond, Thursday’s meeting represents an important step in Bondi’s recovery, balancing remembrance with renewal while ensuring the voices of victims’ families and the community guide the path forward.