Plans for a $72 million makeover of North Sydney Olympic Pool has mayor fearing worst

THE landmark North Sydney Olympic Pool is overdue for a facelift, but concern over the estimated cost has raised fears the project could blow out of control.

An artist impression of what North Sydney Olympic Pool could look like after a $72m revamp.

ONE of Sydney’s landmark facilities could be given a $72 million makeover.

North Sydney Council is considering several options to upgrade North Sydney Olympic Pool, ranging from a basic $16 million upgrade to a complete revamp for $72 million.

The top level option — called a “generational upgrade” — for the state-heritage listed venue would include a new 66m pool, an international diving facility, a grandstand and shade structure for 750 people, a large wellness centre and an underground carpark.

But the estimated cost of $72 million has North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson concerned.

The 50m pool is in dire need of a revamp.

She believes the total cost of the top upgrade could soar to between $90 and $100 million.

“We are talking about enormous sums of money here,” Cr Gibson said.

“I believe we’ve got to get back to basics and try agree on a reasonable budget.”

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She said although the council was debt free, going in to debt for the project would make the fight against forced council amalgamations difficult.

“We are trying to sell ourselves as debt free and in the same breath we are talking about borrowing $100 million,” she said.

Despite claims from fellow councillors she was scaremongering, Cr Gibson said consultants had pointed out the $72 million price tag was not a “very realistic quote”.

But Cr MaryAnn Beregi called the plans a “once in a century opportunity”.

Mayor Jilly Gibson is worried about the cost of the plans.

Cr Gibson is also concerned about a “massive community backlash” as the pool is state heritage listed and that North Sydney Oval is also in need of an upgrade.

However, Cr Maryann Beregi told a council meeting last week the pool upgrade was a “once in a century opportunity”.

“We are not just catering for today, we are catering for tomorrow,” she said.

The basic upgrade with an estimated price tag of $16 million includes new 50m and leisure pools, an upgrade of the changing rooms and partly refurbishing the grandstand.

Community consultation found that residents wanted a basic upgrade of the pool, with improvements to the changing rooms and an outdoor 50m pool their main concern.

The historic pool opened in 1936. Picture: Adam Yip

However council documents found comments from the community suggesting they actually wanted the second level, called “Upgrade Plus”.

Just eight per cent wanted the more expensive “generational development” of the historic facility.

More than 1000 members of the community responded to the survey.

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At last week’s meeting councillors agreed to place just the $72 million option on public exhibition, leaving the other cheaper options out.

It has iconic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Luna Park. Picture: Adam Yip

But this decision was delayed, with Cr Gibson feeling it was “dishonest” to only put forward one option.

She pointed out that nobody suggested during community consultation that diving facilities or a hydrotherapy pool were wanted.

“I strongly believe that ignoring community sentiment puts our entire community engagement process at risk. Why would our stakeholders bother to participate in future surveys if the results are ignored?,” she said.

At the meeting the council also decided to write a second letter to Premier Mike Baird asking for a $25 million pre-election funding commitment for the upgrade of the pool.

The pool opened in 1936, took 36 weeks to build and cost £47,000, about $10 million in modern terms.

It was the first pool in Australia to purify sea water and used advanced technology for the time.

It hosted the Empire Games in 1938 and 1958, and 86 world records in swimming and diving have been set in the pool.

A council spokeswoman stated it could not answer any questions about the pool redevelopment until a decision on the public exhibition process was made.

GRAND POOL PLANS

● 66m pool with two booms

● Indoor leisure pool

● International diving facility

● Indoor splash pad with water play area

● Grandstand and shade structure for 750 people

● Reduced new indoor waterside

● Six-lane indoor 25m pool

● Large gym and wellness centre under the 50m pool

● Hydrotherapy pool under the 50m pool forming part of the gym

● Upper and lower change rooms including family change facilities

● Landscaped roof — new harbour foreshore park

● Underground parking for 125 cars accessed from Alfred St

● New concourse level cafe/kiosk

● New cafe in old gym area

Cost estimate: $72 million