$90 million Parramatta pool designs leaked

Leaked artist impressions show futuristic “spaceship-like” designs for the planned Parramatta Aquatic Centre — but they may never see the light of day.

Designs for the Parramatta pool have been leaked after the State Government took control of the pool from the council.

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Images of a pool that residents may never see have been leaked. Designs of the Parramatta Aquatic and Leisure Centre were made during an international competition, where four concepts were presented to councillors.

The final four designs each came in more than $20 million over the allocated budget, and the final two designs which have now been leaked were short-listed as potential choices for the pool.

The designs were first presented to the council in a closed session at the July 23 meeting, close to four months ago.

Councillors were briefed on each design, with one councillor at the time describing one like a “spaceship”.

“One … (had) everything built above ground,” one councillor said. “The other looked like a hole in the ground, cut into the hill but you could stand on the hole and look down into the pool.”

A decision by the State Government to take control of the pool after eight months of deliberations has drawn scepticism from councillors, including deputy mayor and OLC member Michelle Garrard.

“Let’s see what can be delivered for $30 million when a site constraint is worth $20 million alone,” Ms Garrard said.

The spaceship design was one of four short-listed designs presented to the council.

“The public needs to be aware this is a state issue as they took the community facility. Both parties have used council to start a political funding war. Parramatta deserves a pool.”

Council confirmed that they had previously estimated the replacement value of the former pool in 2015, which was then expected to cost just under $30 million, assuming a similar site which was flat and had no significant heritage or other design constraints was chosen.

They also said it had spent between $350,000 and $500,000 on the design competition, the next step would have been $1.5 million in early works and planning on the Mays Hill site.

A business case by the council found that in order to be eligible for the state’s funding promise of $30 million, council would need to endorse a design that matches the $75.2 million budget, which a coalition of the council Liberals said was impossible.

A release signed by five of the six Liberal councillors called on the funds once set aside for the pool to go back into other projects. Bill Tyrrell from the Epping ward said Dence Park could use the funding.

The futuristic designs are a glimpse at work could have been for Parramatta.

The designs were likely to cost $90 million

“A portion of the $30 million earmarked for the Parramatta pool could be shifted towards the Dence Park Pool in Epping. This would be a strong outcome for our community, particularly for our residents who have joined us from Hornsby council.”

While all but one of the Liberal councillors have now buried the idea of council funding the pool, Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson said he is confident negotiations will restart.

“I think we will be in talks with them again,” Cr Wilson said.

“I don’t think this will be the end.”

Parramatta War Memorial Pool was closed last year and demolished by the state government to make way for Western Sydney Stadium.

Parramatta council was told to endorse a design, but had a $75.2 million limit.

Sport Minister Stuart Ayres sent a rejection letter to the council in June this year after an increase in funding was requested.

Mr Ayres said the government would not supply more than $30 million to build on the old golf course site.

In October, Mr Ayres announced the government would take full control of the pool and build to a $30 million budget, which would not include the scope of the designs.

In a letter addressed to Cr Wilson, Mr Ayres said that if council had any intention of pursuing the expanded pool designs they would need to “lock down” the requirements immediately.