For generations, Sydney’s ocean pools were a symbol of the city’s cultural diversity and resilience. They were places where women and men swam laps, free from strong waves and shark attacks. They were a haven for recreational swimmers, and a training ground for elite competitors. These swimming paradises were built as Australia emerged from depression in the 1930s and just two years before the city would host the 1938 Commonwealth Games.

But today, the iconic North Sydney Olympic Pool – once lauded as a wonder of the world – has become a political folly with an eye-watering price tag and a delayed opening. Beset by council infighting, accusations of pork-barrelling and a lack of transparency, heritage concerns and criticism from health organisations, what was once a community asset has now become a gaping wound.

The North Sydney pool’s budget has blown out to more than $100m, with its opening date now set far into the future – possibly 2025. And with councillors and the mayor of North Sydney bewildered at how the project has spiralled, independent federal MP Kylea Tink sees it as a “really good example of how not to do an infrastructure project.”

She points out that while nine in 10 Australians live within a 20-minute drive of a public swimming facility, access isn’t evenly distributed by population. Outer suburbs in councils like Parramatta have more than 134,000 residents per aquatic centre, whereas Mosman and Randwick have about 14,000 residents for each.

And, she says, the broader costs of running an aquatics facility also vary widely. Some pools run on the cheap and are open seasonally, while others have to pay for specialised facilities and expensive energy bills. This can make them unaffordable for some communities, while others are able to recoup their investment by charging fashion week shows and production companies – activities outside the usual remit of a local pool.

But despite the many challenges, the community remains committed to getting the pool open at all costs. “We are all very upset and frustrated by this situation, but we will keep fighting to get the pool open,” says former mayor and current deputy premier, Jodi Reddy.

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