NSW Government takes Parramatta pool dilemma from council
IT’S BACK ON: Construction and development of the Parramatta pool has been taken over by the State Government ending months of negotiations and debate.
Parramatta
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IN a bold move NSW Government has announced it will take over control and construction of the Parramatta replacement pool.
The move was made after public backlash to a Parramatta council decision effectively putting the pool on a 10 month hold.
Minister for sport Stuart Ayres said the state would begin the early works on the site in Parramatta Park for the $30 million “like-for-like” pool, “without delay”.
The Parramatta pool was eight months behind schedule, with the council unhappy with the four designs submitted from the design competition; each surpassed the $75.2 million budget, and initially had a timeline for completion by June 2020.
Mr Ayres said work on the former Parramatta golf club site for the $30 million pool would begin “without delay”.
The Parramatta pool was eight months behind schedule because the council was unhappy with the four designs submitted from the design competition.
Each surpassed the $75.2 million budget and initially had a timeline for completion by June 2020.
Mr Ayres alerted the council to the decision to wrest control in a letter to Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson and circulated to the councillors.
In it, Mr Ayres told the council “time has run out”.
“I am not prepared to tolerate further delay to this project,” he said.
“I have therefore instructed Infrastructure NSW, on behalf of the NSW Government, to commence the design process.”
Mr Ayres has given the council an “immediate” deadline if it intends to pursue an expanded scope for the new aquatic and leisure centre – locking in the design and allocating relevant funding.
Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee hit back at the council for “squandering” the opportunity. “Parramatta councillors have failed the community,” he said.
“For the past eight months councillors have repeatedly changed their minds.”
The Parramatta War Memorial Pool was demolished in April last year to make way for the Western Sydney Stadium.
The placement of a new pool on the Westmead side of Parramatta Park and the funding was confirmed by Premier Gladys Berejiklian before demolition took place.
Councillors were initially denied further funding by Mr Ayres in June this year. The council approached Mr Ayres to secure an additional $10 million to match the business case, which the minister has rejected in a letter to the councillors.
Mr Ayres responded to the council in the letter, where he stated: “The $30 million promised by NSW Government is a capped amount which will not be increased.”
He went on to say that “no further contribution to the new Aquatic Leisure Centre will be made”.
“Any increase in the scope and therefore the cost of (the pool) … is a matter for the council to determine and to fund.
“Council decided to pursue a more expensive option.”
Parramatta Liberal MP Geoff Lee hit back at the council for “squandering” the opportunity.
“Parramatta councillors have failed the community,” Mr Lee said.
“For the past eight months councillors have repeatedly changed their minds.”
Members of Parramatta Memorial Swimming Club have asked the council to push the matter through as the project timeline has blown out to June 2020.
“The council had the opportunity to gauge public opinion … the vast majority just want what we had. That being an open-air, outdoor facility with grass surrounds and accessible to the community,” club secretary Katherine Scriven said.
“I have so many swim students that are missing out on swim school because we have no other options.”
Mr Lee said councillors had embarrassed themselves by “playing politics”.
“I can assure residents that work will begin on the design and planning for the pool immediately, so we can see this project delivered for the people of Parramatta as soon as possible.”