More of the city’s pools to close as North Sydney hits yet another delay

Three more ageing Sydney aquatic centres are set to close for renovations worth a combined $160 million as councils attempt to avoid the cost blowouts and delays of the North Sydney pool fiasco.

The closures come as North Sydney Council warned the beleaguered $122 million revamp of its Olympic pool, which began in 2021, could be further delayed until November – raising the prospect it might not reopen before summer.

Botany Aquatic Centre in 2008. The mid-century pool will close on April 27 for renovations, reopening in 2027.Credit: Edwina Pickles

Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre is one of a slew of public pools built in the 1950s and 60s which have reached the end of their lifespan. Work has already started on building a new children’s pool and, next year, the centre will close for construction of new 50m and 25m pools.

Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne said, unlike North Sydney Council, the local government would not increase residents’ rates to help fund the $55 million project.

“There are a lot of pools coming to the end of their life cycle at the same time … [locals] understand if you don’t undertake the renovations and plan for it properly, what happens is what we’ve seen across other councils in Sydney – these things end up closing,” he said.

After watching North Sydney swimmers go without their pool for years, Leichhardt Swimming Club secretary Peter McDonald said locals were nervous about this project running on time.

Construction on North Sydney Olympic Pool continues. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

“The flow-on from potentially losing all those squad swimmers is on the club – are they going to go to other clubs, are they going to not go to squads and give up swimming?” he said.

Locals love the retro vibe of the 1960s Botany Aquatic Centre, but Bayside Mayor Ed McDougall said after nearly 60 years of use, essential pool infrastructure such as pumps and water filters are failing.

The pool will close on April 27 for a $63 million renovation, including new 50m and 25m pools and a children’s play area with slides, and is expected to reopen for the 2027 swim season.

Further west, the Mount Druitt Swimming Centre is also set to close when construction begins in 2026. The $40.6 million project is expected to open in 2028. Unlike the existing facility, which closes during winter, the new centre will be open year-round and include a 25m indoor pool.

Construction of the North Sydney pool was slated to be completed in May but, after developer Icon further pushed back the forecast completion to August, a recent council update said it now may not “achieve completion” before November. The pool would then likely reopen to swimmers about six to eight weeks after construction is completed, in early 2026.

North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker said staff from councils including the City of Sydney and Inner West had contacted the council to discuss the “pitfalls and lessons” of the Olympic pool revamp.

Andrew (Boy) Charlton in The Domain remains closed after shutting in May 2024 for re-tiling and the installation of a new heating system. The pool is expected to reopen in September.

The Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool last underwent a major refurbishment in 2011.Credit: Dallas Kilponen

Epping swimmers have been without their pool since last April, but the fate of a $26 million renovation is up in the air after Parramatta Council discovered estimated construction costs had blown out.

The council is now exploring reopening the centre without the upgrades completed – which will likely come with additional costs – but the site sits dormant.

Willoughby Leisure Centre closed in 2022 for a planned $38 million revamp and was due to open in 2024, but the pool remains closed after the discovery of asbestos and the need for extra building materials caused cost blowouts and delays. It’s expected to open later this year.

Canterbury Leisure and Aquatic Centre is also closed for upgrades and is due to open next year.

A report by Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA) found most pools built in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s have reached, or are close to reaching, the end of their lifespans.

The organisation estimates around 500, or 40 per cent, of Australia’s public swimming pools will require replacement in the next decade.

While pool renovations can be costly and inconvenient, RLSA chief executive Justin Scarr said councils needed to get these projects done to ensure access for the next 50 years.

“Tragically, the politics of the pool is really complex with many communities having diverse needs and noisy voices – that combined with the tragedy of North Sydney pool means that many councils really fear development and refurbishment,” he said.

Scarr believes greater federal investment in public pools could help these projects run smoother, and help councils feel more confident planning renovations.

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