North Sydney Olympic Pool

27 August 2018

North Sydney Ratepayers Fund Mayor's Melbourne Pool Tour With Daughter

Independent councillor Zoe Baker said funds would be better spent on

engaging a probity adviser to ensure transparency for the project.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/north-sydney-ratepayers-fund-

mayor-s-melbourne-pool-tour-with-daughter-20180820-p4zyn9.html

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16 September 2019

North Sydney Olympic Pool design blow-out fuels information

concerns, Sydney Morning Herald

"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.” said Cr Beregi

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/north-sydney-olympic-pool-

design-blow-out-fuels-information-concerns-20190908-p52p5l.html

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15 December 2019

'Wiping out history': North Sydney Pool Revamp Sparks Heritage Fears

Councillor Zoe Baker said plans for retail space, a gelato bar, smaller

grandstand, children's water play area and expanded gym were at odds

with the pool's predominant use to swim.

"The current application will totally destroy the social and cultural

heritage," she said.

"It's trying to put into that single centre too many things and too many

uses for too many people."

Councillor MaryAnn Beregi said the redevelopment went too far and the

"iconic" pool's heritage did not appear to be "a great concern". "There's

no need to lose it, we can still have a lovely pool and preserve the

heritage while modernising it," she said.

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https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/wiping-out-history-north-sydney-

pool-revamp-sparks-heritage-fears-20191128-p53f41.html

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26 February 2020

A 'regional facility': Sydney Mayor Defends $10 Million Pool Grant, Sydney Morning Herald

Cr Baker said she supported seeking funding contributions from state

and federal governments to help fund the redevelopment.

"My big concern is I don't see how it's justified that a metropolitan council

like North Sydney should receive funds earmarked for rural and regional

areas," she said.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-regional-facility-sydney-mayor-

defends-10-million-pool-grant-20200226-p544o5.html

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26 February 2020

How North Sydney Council Won a $10m Pool Upgrade Grant

Earmarked For Regions, ABC News

The federal grant, first reported by the ABC on Wednesday, drew

criticism from independent councillor Zoe Baker, who said she was

"shocked" and "not aware the council has made any formal application

to that funding scheme". In any case, she said, it appeared the inner city

council would not be eligible.

"My big concern is I don't see how it's justified that a metropolitan council

like North Sydney should receive funds earmarked for rural and regional

areas," she said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-26/how-north-sydney-council-won-

a-$10m-pool-upgrade-grant/11998724

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27 February 2020

CASH SPLASH: How North Sydney Council Won a $10m pool

upgrade grant earmarked for regions, ABC 730

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuSRZz1WQsY

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11 April 2020

North Sydney Pool Plan Pushes Ahead 'under the cover of

coronavirus', Sydney Morning Herald

Councillor Zoe Baker said that start-date was unlikely given the

pandemic and the council should delay consideration of the proposed

changes to allow the revised plans to go out for community consultation.

“Any other applicant we would regard as really shonky to have received

a letter that talks about significant amendments required in order to

address significant and adverse heritage impacts on important items of

heritage."

Councillor MaryAnn Beregi said the mayor and general manager had

"lodged the amended plans under the cover of coronavirus and without

the knowledge of the community".

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/north-sydney-pool-plan-pushes-

ahead-under-the-cover-of-coronavirus-20200324-p54djw.html

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26 June, 2020

“'Vanity project': North Sydney Councillors Lash $58 Million Pool Revamp” Sydney Morning Herald

"This is a bloated, expensive vanity project that takes a sledgehammer

to the built and cultural heritage of the pool," Cr Baker said. "To

contemplate such a project during a pandemic, where North Sydney

Council will have to borrow up to $30 million, is completely reckless," Cr

Baker said.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/vanity-project-north-sydney-

councillors-lash-58-million-pool-revamp-20200625-p5566m.html

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1 July 2020

Councillors still losing cool over revamp of pool, Sydney Morning Herald

“The proposal will forever alter the heritage fabric of the pool as well as

the social and cultural heritage of the pool, favouring privatised retail

uses over public recreation,” Cr Baker said.

Her concerns were echoed by fellow councillor MaryAnn Beregi, who

said the revamp amounted to the privatisation of a public space.

“The plans seek to turn the North Sydney Pool complex into something

of a cross between a Westfield food court and a night-time

function/entertainment centre, with a bit of swimming on the side,” said

Cr Beregi

https://www.smh.com.au/national/councillors-still-losing-cool-over-

revamp-of-pool-20200626-p556pb.html

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13 January 2021

Opal Tower builder chosen to redevelop historic North Sydney

Olympic Pool, Sydney Morning Herald

"The council's budget for the project has gone from $28 million to $58

million to $64 million, and we don't even know what $64 million will get

us," Cr Beregi said.

"I've been concerned by what I've read about [Icon's] financial position

and the status of various legal claims, and whether they have sufficient

experience to undertake what is an incredibly complex build on a

heritage site."

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/opal-tower-builder-chosen-to-

redevelop-historic-north-sydney-olympic-pool-20201223-p56psr.html

15 January 2021

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Deal in the dark: how did the Opal Tower developer land a fresh

$64m project? Crikey

“I’m very concerned that there’s a profound lack of transparency around

the project generally, but particularly the terms of the contract with Icon,”

Cr Baker said.

“It’s entirely unacceptable that it should be done in such an obscure and

wholly unaccountable way.”

https://www.crikey.com.au/2021/01/15/opal-tower-north-sydney-olympic-

pool

2 December 2021

Delay to North Sydney pool sparks concern about another budget

blowout, Sydney Morning Herald

North Sydney councillor MaryAnn Beregi said the Milsons Point pool was

an iconic site, and questions had to be asked about why the new

restaurant and cafe sites were not put out to public tender, and were

instead awarded to the current lessee at “what would seem a below-

market rate”.

“It has gone from $28 million to $58 million to $64 million. They have

only just finished the demolition, which is the easy part. The build is the

hard part,” she said. “Council’s finances are already stretched and there

are no more funds.”

Mayor Jilly Gibson said she “was “very confident that we’ll be swimming

in it before Christmas 2022”.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/delay-to-north-sydney-pool-

sparks-concern-about-another-budget-blowout-20211129-p59d5v.html

1 May 2023

‘I told you so’: Recriminations fly over $89m North Sydney pool

revamp, Sydney Morning Herald