In a city where pools are as much a cultural symbol as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it’s no surprise that one of the most iconic is being restored at a cost of more than $100 million. But amid council infighting, claims of pork-barrelling and a lack of transparency, heritage concerns and criticism from health organisations, the project has run aground. Its opening has been pushed back to 2025 at the earliest.
Its troubles have raised questions about the way in which government grants are awarded and whether it’s fair to expect inner-city councils to be able to spend their own money on such a large project. Across the country, many local government-owned pools are closed or in need of urgent repairs. This is particularly the case for public swimming pools, which are typically a council’s single most expensive asset. And a government policy of shifting infrastructure costs onto local communities has only exacerbated the issue.
At the centre of the controversy is a $10m grant that was allocated to the pool from a fund set aside for regional and remote women’s sports. That decision, said Kylea Tink, the independent federal MP for North Sydney, was a prime example of “pork-barrelling”. She believes the money should have been shifted to other priorities and argues that it was used to buy votes ahead of a council election in September.
Baker says the North Sydney pool was originally funded by council rates, but since the introduction of rate capping – which limits how much councils can raise their rates – it has been almost entirely funded by grants from state and federal governments. She also points to the decision to build a 25-metre pool rather than a 50-metre pool as an additional factor in the rising cost.
When you have a new pool installed, the installation will likely take up to two weeks. The timeframe is determined by the size and complexity of your pool and how long it takes to install the water line, pumps and chemicals. There is a bit of luck involved as well, as the weather plays an important role in ensuring that your pool will be ready for use as quickly as possible. Ideally, the construction process will be completed in winter, which is relatively warm and dry in Sydney.
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