North Sydney Council calls for independent review of Olympic Pool redevelopment

North Sydney Council is to undertake an independent review into the management of its delayed and over budget Olympic Pool redevelopment.

The need “for an urgent inquiry” into the Council’s handling of the revamp of the iconic pool, which site below the Sydney Harbour Bridge, was agreed by Councillors at a meeting on 11th October.

Aiming to ensure the project remains on track, Mayor Zoe Baker said Council would appoint a suitably qualified consultant to review Council’s management of the project including its governance structure and financing model.

Mayor Baker advised “it is no secret that during the last term of Council, I (with Councillor Beregi and former Councillor Carr) consistently opposed the design, scale and cost of the North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment and, particularly the significant $30 million in borrowings for the $63.8 million project.

“It is now clear that we are running over time and budget. This new Council inherited the project and is legally bound to deliver the project in its current form. I know the new councillors share the concerns and we believe we need a fresh set of eyes to help us chart the best path for the future and ensure we get the best possible outcomes for our community.”

Opened at Milsons Point in 1936, work on the North Sydney Olympic Pool project began on site in March last year with an original completion date of November 2022.

After delays and cost variations created by a range of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme rain events associated with La Nina, the redevelopment is unlikely to reopen in July 2023 at the earliest.

Mayor Baker said the Council was also expecting the work to cost more than the $63.8 million it had approved, noting factors including:

• The increased cost of building materials, which has been well publicised and affected major projects across Australia;

• The costs associated with delays, which are being shared by Council and the contractor; and

• The project contract which allows for variations. This is not uncommon in the construction industry and Council’s budget allowed for a contingency, but this will not be sufficient.

Councillor Ian Mutton told the Council meeting that variations to the contract this year were “dramatically impacting” the cost of the redevelopment.

Mayor Baker said the review was not a reflection on the building contractor or the quality of their work, adding “Council wants to review our role in relation to this project to ensure we have the best possible support and structures in place for the remainder of the work.

“We know how important the North Sydney Olympic Pool is to our community and we are morally obliged to deliver the project to an exceptionally high standard and as quickly as possible so that our community can have access once again.”

Images: North Sydney Olympic Pool sits beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge (top) and the concept for its redevelopment (below).