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North Sydney Council has lodged a development application for its planned $57.9 million overhaul of the North Sydney Olympic Pool, which includes upgrades to the existing pools, a new ‘family leisure’ pool and a replacement grandstand.

However, the Council are currently seeking a solution to the need for a shade cover to protect the children's pool from the sun, prompting one Councillor, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, to argue the plans for the revamp were being pushed through "under the cover of coronavirus".

An independent report, prepared by consultants GML Heritage, found the steel-framed shade canopy designed to protect the children and families' pool would "dominate the original structures of the pool complex in a highly visible location" which would have "an adverse impact on the pool complex and the setting of Luna Park".

Their concerns prompted the project's independent planners to request changes to the design of the upgraded facility

The council was set to debate the updated plans at a meeting on 23^rd March, but not enough Councillors could attend.

Instead, North Sydney Council General Manager, Ken Gouldthorp told the Council's most recent meeting he and Mayor Jilly Gibson had already submitted the amended development application under delegation within the required 14-day window.

As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Gouldthorp said he expects work on the redevelopment to start around September.

The facility, which is currently shut due to the Coronavirus outbreak, is expected to be closed for at least two years.

Commenting on the need for a shade structure, Gouldthorp stated "we’ve now got this dilemma in the 21st century between the community’s attitudes towards 'sun-safe' and providing a modern facility with shading over the children's leisure pool, or retaining the heritage elements of the pool that were designed some 80 years ago when 'sun-safe' wasn't such an issue."

Image shows an earlier concept for the North Sydney Council's redevelopment of the North Sydney Olympic Pool.

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