A bitter legal battle is set to erupt between a local council and an architectural firm over the proposed redevelopment of one of Australia’s most famous swimming pools.
North Sydney Council will on Monday consider legal action against Brewster Hjorth Architects (BHA) after a string of budgets and timelines to renovate North Sydney’s historic Olympic pool.
Located between the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Luna Park, the pool closed in February 2021 for upgrades costing $58 million and was due to be completed in late 2022.
North Sydney Council now expects the project to be completed in early 2025, with costs rising to $89.1 million.
The renovation now hinges on the steel roof framework over the 25m indoor pool, which was delayed again after ‘significant’ design and construction problems saw it collapse in November.
The executive summary of a confidential report submitted to the council revealed the council had entered into a dispute resolution process over the delay and cost of the roof.
It was caused by the contract builder disagreeing with the project supervisor’s assessment of the BHA’s project variation in June.
However, the two sides were unable to reach a middle ground and the council now has the right to escalate the matter to court.
“Council can now commence proceedings against the BHA if it wishes to pursue its claims,” the executive summary said.
North Sydney Council could soon launch legal proceedings against architects over delays and budget blowouts at a renovation project to renovate North Sydney’s historic Olympic pool (pictured)
Mayor Zoe Baker said the council meeting would detail the potential issue to be presented in an application and direct the chief executive to take legal action.
“I can’t predict what the vote will be,” Ms Baker told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“From my personal perspective, this is part of the council’s commitment to transparency about the project and project management.”
She added that it was the council’s ‘obligation’ to consider its legal options in order to protect taxpayers’ interests.
Details of the dispute have been kept confidential and will be heard behind closed doors as it involves a ‘trade secret’.
The executive summary also revealed that the firm had requested nine new changes to the project’s completion date and budget since the last meeting in June.
During the same time period, the building contractor had sent a number of Requests for Information (RFIs) to the council regarding ‘latent conditions, design and contractual matters’.
“A total of 39 RFs have been submitted since the last report to Council, bringing the total RFs received on the project to 1,419,” the summary states.
The project has been delayed for more than two years and has cost the council more than $89 million, which could rise to $110 million upon completion (pictured, construction on the pool)
She followed the requests for An additional $1.8 million from the council between March and June.
Among those costs were more than $138,000 for ‘remedial work’ on a brick wall and over $226,000 for a ‘new electronic substation’.
While ‘practical completion’ of the project is expected to happen early next year, the council said it would take two to three months to make it operational.
The project is expected to top $100 million upon completion, with previous budget extensions forcing the council to take out a $20 million loan.
Mayor Baker said in February that the loan would push the project to between $105 million and $110 million, nearly double the originally agreed-upon cost.
Daily Mail Australia contacted North Sydney Council and Brewster Hjorth Architects for comment.