At a fiery extraordinary meeting on Tuesday,general manager Ken Gouldthorp revealed the cost of the project,which is the largest infrastructure initiative undertaken by the council,had risen by $6 million to $64 million.
"We've already blown out the budget before a sod's been turned,"councillor MaryAnn Beregi said.
"It shows blatant disregard for public money."
Mayor Jilly Gibson said the council needed to get started on the reconstruction,which has been frustrated bycost blowouts,heritage concerns and delays to the council's previously published project timeline.
"This is a Christmas present for the people of North Sydney. I'll tie a big gold bow around the contract,"she said.
Cr Gibson said the most recent budget increase was"peanuts"given the pool's expected 50-year-plus lifespan.
In November 2017,the council voted to redevelop the pool for an estimated $28 million. By March 2019,the council said changes to the scope of the project meant that estimate had risen to $57.9 million.