North Sydney Council hassubmitted plans for the $57.9 million overhaul of the historic venue,including upgrades to the existing pools,a new"family leisure"pool and a replacement grandstand.
But prominent architects are protesting the removal of the building that houses the 25-metre pool built in 2000.
Architect Ken Maher,who led the Hassell design practice team responsible for the indoor pool,said the decision to knock down the modern structure seems like a"waste of resources".
"It's wiping out history – even if it's recent history – our city is enhanced by these layers of history,"he said.
His concerns have been echoed by the Australian Institute of Architects'NSW branch president,Kathlyn Loseby,who objected to the structure's"implicit demolition"in a submission to the council.
"It eliminates any possibility for its future contribution to North Sydney's and Sydney's architectural heritage,"the submission on behalf of 10 leading architects says.