North Sydney’s 85-year-old pool project faces fresh delays, budget blowouts and construction errors. Thousands of north shore residents could be slugged with huge council bills, as council considers a massive rate hike.

Work on the project began in February 2021 and was originally due for completion in 2023 at an estimated cost of $64 million. Council has recently revealed that it requires an extra $17 million in funding to complete the harbourfront pool, with the final price tag expected to come in at $122 million. This is a lot higher than any other pool redevelopment with Ashfield and Parramatta only costing $44 million and $88 million.

Interest payments for council are costing over $1 millions a year and these blowouts will continue to have ramifications for other local infrastructure projects, including Neutral Bay, Cremorne and North Sydney town centre upgrades.

One major defect is the structural steel roof framing over the new 25-metre indoor pool having to be dismantled.