‘Just like North Sydney’: The public pool facing a $43 million cost blowout

The price tag to redevelop a public pool in the city’s north-west has soared from $30 million to more than $70 million in four years, drawing comparisons with cost blowouts on the North Sydney Olympic Pool project.

Hawkesbury City Council will have to find $43.1 million through “alternate financing arrangements” to plug the funding gap for its redevelopment of Richmond Swimming Centre, after the council approved the addition of a gymnasium and the expansion of the outdoor swimming pool from six to eight lanes.

Announced in 2022, the pool upgrade was originally costed at $30 million, to be fully funded through the state government’s western Sydney infrastructure grants program, known then as WestInvest.

But rising construction costs and changes in the project’s scope have pushed that figure to $73 million, a Hawkesbury City Council spokesperson said. The price tag has been criticised by many in the community, including some on the council.

Independent councillor Nathan Zamprogno said it was disappointing that the community was led to believe the project could be fully funded through the WestInvest grant, expressing that the cost will continue to grow.

“What do we do when the costs reach $80 million, $90 million or more?” he said.

“This is going to become a millstone around the community’s neck, just like the North Sydney pool debacle, and is a bitter pill at a time when the council is also seeking to raise everybody’s rates by another 40 per cent.”

After two years of redevelopment became five, the new North Sydney Olympic Pool will have cost $122 million when it opens later this year.

Hawkesbury City Council has applied for a special rate variation of 8.66 per cent a year for four years to fund various infrastructure renewal and upgrade projects.

The decision to proceed with the redevelopment of Richmond pool occurred at an April council meeting that stretched to 12.41am and included general manager Elizabeth Richardson tendering her resignation. The Herald is not suggesting these matters were related.

Built in the 1960s, the ageing pool is approaching the end of its life and lacks “many of the modern expectations” around accessibility, safety and energy efficiency, the council spokesperson said.

“A like-for-like replacement would not meet the requirements of the western Sydney infrastructure funding agreement, resulting in the need to return the funding,” they said.

“Council would be then required to either fully fund the replacement or consider permanent closure of the centre.”

The pool was one of 10 projects in the Hawkesbury that received funding through the WestInvest program.

In a January 2023 media release, former mayor Sarah McMahon said residents could “expect work to begin over the next 12 months” on the projects, including Richmond Swimming Centre.

However, that didn’t happen, and the pool is now not expected to be complete until late 2028, “weather permitting”, the spokesperson said.

Along with a gymnasium and expanded outdoor pool, the redeveloped swimming centre is to feature an indoor 25-metre pool, kids “splash park”, new bathrooms and a cafe.

The Sydney Morning Herald has a bureau in the heart of Parramatta. Email parramatta@smh.com.au with news tips.