When news broke about the ambitious redevelopment of North Sydney’s historic Olympic pool, Sydneysiders were appropriately excited – despite being a little bummed that they wouldn’t be able to take a dip in one of the city’s most remarkably positioned pools for an estimated two years. Three years on, we’re starting to get a little impatient – and further delays to the reconstruction of North Sydney Olympic Pool have been announced. The project is now set to blow out to more than $100 million and not be complete until 2025 – four years after construction began.
The original proposed refurbishment was estimated to cost $64 million, and was due to open to keen swimmers in mid 2023 – complete with upgraded gym facilities, upgraded indoor and outdoor pools, plus a family leisure pool, a sundeck, a gelato bar and a new spectator grandstand. Back in November 2023, the total cost for the project was estimated to stand at around $89 million. Now, after a series of construction delays and mishaps, the estimated cost for the project stands at $100 million. The construction might be costly, but it’s the most significant upgrade to the pool since it opened back in 1936 – a once in a century kind of glow-up.
North Sydney Council identified the new roof frame for the indoor pool as one of the major causes of the delayed construction, which resulted in the “disassembly” of the entire structure back in November. In February’s council meeting, it was announced that the elements of the roof can’t be reused – pushing back the opening date (which was slated for July 2024) even further.
Councillor Jilly Gibson – who oversaw the approval of the redevelopment in her role as mayor of North Sydney – empathised with pool patrons, saying: “I think it’s incredibly frustrating and disappointing for all of us who were daily users of the pool”.
Regardless of how disappointing delays might be, these years of waiting should soon pay off. The spectacular swimming spot – under the shadow of the Harbour Bridge and with exceptional views across Luna Park towards the harbour – is set to reopen in 2025. We’ll believe it when we see it.