THE Albury and Lavington pools are costing $200,000 more to operate than they did only six years ago as their long-term futures are again put under the microscope.
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The two pools cost more than $500,000 to run last financial year which is up from just under $300,000 in 2008-09.
The spike in costs is included in the first report of the latest Albury Council aquatics strategy released to the community and cultural committee on Monday night.
Also since the previous aquatics strategy was undertaken in 2007, visitor rates to the two pools have dropped with an acceleration downward since the opening of the WAVES facility in Wodonga two summers ago.
The average visit by a resident to the Albury pools is also well below industry benchmarks.
An Albury resident on average visits a pool 3.6 times year compared to the industry average of six to nine visits per resident a year.
Wodonga compares slightly better with an average 4.32 visits per resident.
The future of the Albury and Lavington pools are being assessed as part of the strategy update being completed by SGL Consulting Group.
Total visits to the Albury pool reduced from 147,263 in 1998-99 to 121,367 last financial year with the drop off even bigger at Lavington.
Total visits have dropped from 72,999 in 1998-99 to 40,671 last financial year.
Annual operating costs at Albury pool increased from from $261,200 in 2008-09 to $324,630 last financial year.
At Lavington, costs jumped from $131,700 to $190,500 in the same period.
Albury Council meets all operating costs with the exception of staffing costs which are picked up by the contractor which is presently Albury Aquatic Management.
The 2007 aquatics strategy highlighted the Lavington pool's "structural life" would only last about 10 years before a major upgrade or replacement was required.
Further expansion of Albury pool is limited due to space constraints with the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre long been touted as future home for the city's next aquatics facility.