A bitter legal battle is about to erupt between a local council and an architecture firm over the troubled redevelopment of one of Australia’s most famous swimming pools.
North Sydney City Council will consider legal action against Brewster Hjorth Architects (BHA) on Monday following a series of disputes over the budget and planning for the renovation of the historic North Sydney Olympic Pool.
The pool, located between the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Luna Park, closed in February 2021 for $58 million in renovations, with completion scheduled for late 2022.
North Sydney City Council now expects the project to be completed in early 2025 at the earliest, with costs now reaching a staggering $89.1 million.
The renovation now centres on the steel roof frame above the 25-metre indoor pool, which was again delayed after it had to be demolished in November due to ‘significant’ design and construction issues.
A summary of a confidential report submitted to the council revealed that the council had initiated a dispute resolution process over the delay and cost of the roof.
The reason was that the contractor he had agreed with did not agree with the project manager’s assessment of the project change in June.
However, both parties could not find a middle ground and the council now has the right to take the matter to court.
“The Council may now commence proceedings against BHA if it wishes to pursue its claims,” the summary said.
North Sydney City Council could soon take legal action against architects over delays and budget overruns in a renovation project at the historic North Sydney Olympic Pool (pictured)
Mayor Zoe Baker said the council meeting would outline the potential issues that could be raised in a claim and direct the chief executive to take legal action.
“I can’t predict what the mood will be,” Ms. Baker told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘Personally, I see this as part of the council’s commitment to transparency about the project and its management.’
She added that it is the council’s “duty” to explore legal options to protect the interests of taxpayers.
The details of the dispute are confidential and will be discussed behind closed doors as it is a “trade secret”.
The summary also revealed that the company had requested nine new changes to the project’s end date and budget since its last meeting in June.
During the same period, the contractor had sent the council a number of requests for information relating to ‘latent conditions, design and contractual issues’.
‘A total of 39 RFIs have been submitted since the last report to the Council, bringing the total number of RFIs received for the project to 1,419,’ the summary said.
The project has been delayed by more than two years and has cost the council more than $89 million, which could rise to $110 million upon completion (pictured, construction of the pool).
It followed requests for an additional $1.8 million from the council between March and June.
These costs included more than $138,000 for “repair work” to a brick wall and more than $226,000 for a “new electronic substation.”
While the project is expected to be “practically completed” early next year, the council said it will take two to three months to make the project operational.
The project is expected to cost more than $100 million upon completion, while previous budget expansions forced the council to take out a $20 million loan.
Mayor Baker said in February that the loan would bring the project to $105-110 million, nearly double the originally agreed-upon cost.
Daily Mail Australia contacted North Sydney Council and Brewster Hjorth Architects for comment.