Ballooning $65 million budget, further delays: What is going on with Willoughby Leisure Centre?

The Willoughby Leisure Centre - which has been under construction since 2022 - requires an extra $26.1 million in funding to be brought to completion.

According to Willoughby City Council, the blowout follows what it described as a “change in project scope”. 

The cost of the leisure centre has risen from $38.9 million to $65 million. The funding comes from the State Government ($5 million), with the $60 million balance roughly split between council internal reserves and levies council has collected from developers working in the LGA.

The centre is slated to open in early 2026.

Willoughby City Council said the change in project scope was due to structural inadequacies found in the building's substructure. 

After it was found that the piers supporting the centre “did not meet the required structural bearing capacity for reuse”, it was decided the existing base would be demolished, and 263 new piers constructed.

Willoughby City Council said the leisure centre upgrade “aims to include” an indoor 25-metre lap pool with access ramp, a new spa and sauna, toddler and learn to swim pools, and a new roof for the whole centre. 

This is not the first major setback the centre has faced. In 2023, the development was beset with delays when asbestos and unstable surface conditions were found at the site along 2 Small Street.

The majority of these issues were related to the site’s history as a former municipal waste facility, operating from the 1930s to 1985. 

“I want to reassure our community that we are working diligently to manage these challenges with responsible financial oversight and practical solutions that will see a re-opening of this important community facility as soon as possible,” Willoughby City Council Mayor, Tanya Taylor, said in a statement. 

The decision to increase the leisure centre budget was made during a closed session held within the April 28 council meeting. 

Although these sections of meetings are not open to the public and media, a council statement said councillors resolved that Willoughby City Council’s portion of the extra funding would come from reserves and not via residential or business rate increases.

Image Credit: Willoughby City Council