North Sydney Olympic Pool design blow-out fuels information concerns

A $1 million blow-out in the cost of designing a redeveloped North Sydney Olympic Pool has intensified a debate among councillors about the provision of information around the project.

North Sydney Council is running behind its previously published schedule for the redevelopment of the historic pool, and has not secured the funds necessary to meet its estimated $57.9 million redevelopment cost.

Early morning swimmers do laps in the North Sydney Pool. The ageing pool requires a facelift.Credit: Kate Geraghty

At the council’s most recent meeting, general manager Ken Gouldthorp revealed the cost of preparing and submitting a development application for the project, which would be the largest ever infrastructure initiative undertaken by the council, had increased by $980,000 to $2.56 million.

This increase has heightened the concerns of those councillors not part of the majority bloc on council, who have argued they have been denied information about the development of the pool.

The redeveloped North Sydney Olympic Pool will keep heritage elements but include a new grandstand.

In mid-2018, a majority of the council voted to establish a “Project Steering Group” for the redevelopment of the pool. That steering group included two councillors – mayor Jilly Gibson and her daughter Alanya Drummond. It also included Bill Drakopoulos, the owner of Sydney Restaurants Group, which runs the food facilities at the pool.

Since then another councillor, MaryAnn Beregi, has repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempted to access documents prepared by and for this steering group.

Responding to one written request from Cr Beregi, Mr Gouldthorp last month copied in all other councillors to state that Cr Beregi’s request for information was “exceptionally broad” and went “well beyond” what would normally be made available to councillors.

Mr Gouldthorp told the Herald Cr Beregi had been given access to detailed reports at council meetings, and “has been provided with all opportunity to ask further questions or [request] further information through council meetings and has not done so".

“We've made it very clear to Cr Beregi that if she wants specific information please ask us for it,” Mr Gouldthorp said. But he said that if she wanted to undertake broad document searches “she needs to ask formally though the council, at a council meeting, and if the council as a whole wants to pursue that information it will be provided.”

Another councillor who has voted alongside Cr Beregi on pool issues, Zoe Baker, said it was unusual for a general manager to manage document requests.

“The tone that I didn't like when he sent it to all councillors is this idea that he determines what documents are necessary for a councillor to undertake their civic duties,” Cr Baker said.

Cr Baker said when she had previously wanted to inspect council documents it had always been a simple matter of organising a time with the records department.

“This is not litigation, she's not trying to take the council to court,” Cr Baker said of Cr Beregi. “It’s a legitimate part of your role that if you ask to see it, you can see a council file.”

Cr Beregi said: “This should be turned around in two seconds. All I'm asking for is information pertaining to the pool. I am asking for specific information about why we've got a nearly $1 million blow-out in consultant fees."

According to Mr Gouldthorp, the development application for the pool should be lodged within six weeks. The council is hoping for a $10 million or more contribution from the state government for the project, after having secured a $10 million promise from the federal government.