North Sydney Olympic Pool Media
Follow the history and future of the North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
27 February 2020
CASH SPLASH: How North Sydney Council won a $10m pool upgrade grant earmarked for regions, ABC 730
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".
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.
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
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."
15 January 2021
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.”
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”.
1 May 2023
‘I told you so’: Recriminations fly over $89m North Sydney pool revamp, Sydney Morning Herald
Councillor MaryAnn Beregi, a long-time critic of the project, told a meeting last week the report by consultants PwC “absolutely vindicates everything I said in the last council with this project”.
“It was handled appallingly. I hold my tongue when I say, I told you so, but I did.
“We tried and tried to call the majority of the former council to at least listen, and to hear what we had to say, which was only in the best interests of North Sydney and the ratepayers,” Beregi said.
The sad part is, it should have been delivered by now, it should’ve been delivered on budget, and it should’ve been delivered on time.
“Unfortunately, these are very heavy lessons for everyone to have to swallow,” Beregi said.
30 November 2023
1004 days and counting: North Sydney’s $89m pool revamp has come undone – again, Sydney Morning Herald
Baker, a critic of the previous administration’s handling of the pool project, said the council had identified, following the consultants’ report last year, that there would be delays and cost overruns.
“The crux of the ongoing issues this council has inherited with the pool is … the early planning resulted in two separate contracts. As I raised at the time, it would have been a simpler and better process to have a single design and construct contract.
“At the end of the day the pool will be opened, but it has to be of the highest quality we can deliver,” Baker said.
11 February 2024
North Sydney pool rebuild to exceed $100m, as costs and delays blow out, Sydney Morning Herald
Mayor Zoe Baker, a strident critic of the former administration’s handling of the redevelopment, said the additional $20 million was shocking.
“But it is unsurprising. These are the ongoing financial impacts of poor decision-making by the previous council,” she said.
“We’re going to need to have a really honest conversation with our community about the long-term plan for the council,” she said.
An independent report by consultants PwC last year criticised its decision to have separate design and construction contracts for the project.
Baker said it was “time the councillors responsible for these decisions took more accountability”.
22 July 2024
The legal battle looming over $89m North Sydney pool facelift, Sydney Morning Herald
Mayor Zoe Baker said a confidential report to councillors, which they will debate behind closed doors on Monday, detailed potential matters for a claim and recommended council instruct the chief executive to commence legal proceedings against the firm.
“I can’t anticipate what the vote will be,” Baker said, “but from my personal perspective, this is part of the council’s commitment to transparency about the project, and management of the project.
“I think the council has an obligation to explore and pursue any legal avenue to protect the ratepayers’ interests.”
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