🔵 The North Sydney “Fortnite Rio Tinto Labubu” Olympic Pool
Crushed dreams for e-bikes, workers in the heat, and inter-council feuds
Huw Bradshaw
February 10, 2026
⏱️ The 79th edition of our newsletter is a five-minute read.
🌅 Morning all,
On Monday, North Sydney Council announced it would be accepting “expressions of interest” from companies looking to slap their name on the soon (but not so soon) to open North Sydney Olympic Pool.
We asked for some clarification on this. Surely, after years of delays in construction, budget blowouts and frustrated residents, the council wasn’t suggesting this prestigious aquatic centre be potentially renamed the “Fortnite Rio Tinto Labubu Pool”?
A council spokesperson told the Lorikeet that “naming rights proposals may be considered” and that they were remaining “deliberately open-minded”.
Anyway, let’s get into the news for this week.
HEARD THIS WEEK👂
🌡️ We asked North Shore tradies, delivery drivers and a landscaper about sweltering in 40C heat
“You jump in, it’s like a sauna. You're covered in sweat.”
That’s how one St Leonards construction worker describes working through a recent heatwave.
As the mercury hovered around 40C in parts of Sydney, many retreated to air-conditioned living rooms, offices and shopping centres. No such luck for construction workers, posties, council road crews and gig workers ferrying curries and burgers about on bikes.
Heat and productivity: Taking their lunch at a chicken shop, a group of local construction workers were happy to chat to the Lorikeet about the impact of recent heatwaves.
Read the full story below.
🚗 Gridlock: What happens when two councils can’t agree on a road?
On the lower North Shore of Sydney, a simple proposal for an intersection upgrade has spiralled into a near-decade long saga between two local councils.
What happened: Cremorne’s Spofforth Street is a commonly used rat run, peeling off from Military Road and providing drivers with a less congested route toward the city.
The street has seen numerous crashes, and has previously been labelled a “black spot” by the state government.
For years, North Sydney Council has wanted to implement what it says are safety improvements at the intersection of Spofforth Street and Rangers Road.
Currently, the site is ripe for confusion, with cars turning right from the former into the latter being given right of way, and cars driving straight having to wait at a Stop sign.
The initial report on the road was commissioned almost 10 years ago.
Shared custody: The intersection straddles the boundaries of Mosman and North Sydney councils and is home to a row of small businesses, including a chemist, bottle shop and bakery. In order for anything to be done, the two councils must work together.
Read the full story below.
🚴 “Fat Bikes” could soon become flat bikes, as NSW Police are given power to seize and destroy
NSW Police will be able to confiscate and crush illegal e-bikes under new laws proposed by Premier Chris Minns.
The announcement follows an incident last Tuesday involving about 40 people who rode e-bikes across the main traffic lanes of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Cyclists are not permitted to use the main traffic lanes of the bridge.
“Illegal bikes will end up as a twisted wreck so they can’t rejoin the road,” said John Graham, Minister for Transport.
Read more below.
LOOKING NATIONALLY 👀
💸 Why do we still have gambling ads?
The NRL season is almost underway, with trial games taking place over the weekend.
With the footy back, one does have to stop and think: yes, this is another year with more mind-numbing gambling ads.
So why do we still have them? And why won’t the government get rid of them?
Watch Archie’s full rundown below👇
That’s all from me.
Got a story tip? An unsolved mystery? A notable local? Hit reply or reach out at [email protected].
Cheers,
Huw
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