Keys handed over as North Sydney Olympic Pool moves into final readiness phase

North Sydney Olympic Pool has officially reached Practical Completion, marking the formal handover of the facility from the construction contractor to North Sydney Council.

This is a significant milestone for a project that has been plagued by delays and budget blowouts.

The iconic harbourside facility, first opened in 1936 and beloved by generations of Sydneysiders, is confirmed to reopen to the public on Friday August 7, 2026 during its 90th anniversary year.

Over the coming months, Council teams will be on site completing the final stages of preparation to deliver the best possible experience for the community when the facility reopens. This includes fit-outs, installation of equipment and furnishings, staff recruitment and training, implementation of technology and systems, commissioning and testing of plantrooms, finalisation of facility assessments and operating procedures, and completion of the remaining heritage restoration works.

The redeveloped facility will feature Sydney’s only 50-metre heated outdoor pool with direct views of the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park, alongside a 25-metre indoor pool, program pool, children’s splash pad and water play area, state-of-the-art gymnasium, reformer Pilates studio, swim school, crèche, spa, sauna, steam room, sundeck, café and gelato bar.

The redevelopment also includes extensive heritage restoration works celebrating the Pool’s iconic Art Deco character.

Mayor Zoe Baker thanks the community for its patience throughout this project.

“We recognise the frustration many people have felt over the course of the redevelopment and, honestly, there were times I never thought we would see this day,” she says.

“But what now stands on this extraordinary harbour foreshore is a truly beautiful public facility that honours the history of the original pool while creating something future generations will enjoy for decades to come.

“This is a facility built not just for today, but for future generations of swimmers, families, visitors and the wider community.”

Ahead of opening day, Council will offer a series of guided community preview tours, providing the public with an opportunity to experience the transformation of North Sydney Olympic Pool ahead of its reopening.

Community members are invited to register their interest at northsydneyolympicpool.com.au and @northsydneypool on social media.

Meanwhile, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has approved a number of council rate increases, including North Sydney Council’s application for a permanent 52.66 per cent increase in general income over three years, clearing the way for residential rates to rise by an average 52.3 per cent by 2028-29.

This is increase has been required in part by the blowout in costs for the pool redevelopment, and in the face of strong community opposition. The pool redevelopment was only one factor however, and other factors included the need to restore financial sustainability, address long-running underfunding of infrastructure renewal, fund new corporate and financial systems, maintain service levels and set aside about $40 million in special variation income to support future co-funding of projects in its Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan.

The North Sydney Sun reports that, while noting some shortcomings in the council’s community engagement, the tribunal found the council had adequately consulted the community and provided sufficient information about the need for and extent of the proposed increase.

IMAGE: North Sydney Pool (Supplied, North Sydney Council)