PRESSURE to extend the swimming season at the city's outdoor pools has been rejected again by Albury Council.
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A bid by the Fish Out Of Water lobby group pushing for better aquatics facilities including a 50-metre indoor pool requested a trial extension at the end of last season, but was rejected.
The trial was recommended to take place for a month at the Albury pool which re-opened on Monday for this season.
As part of the updated aquatics strategy being conducted by consultants, SGL, further investigation has taken place into the implications of extending the pool season.
It included gaining more accurate information on consumable and management costs at the Albury and Lavington pools.
Feedback to consultants cites any extension to the pool is only catering for fitness and training which is estimated to make up only 20 to 25 per cent of the overall aquatics market.
Casual and membership visits were recorded at the Albury pool in the final three weeks of last season with about 60 visits per day and predominately for lap swimming.
Consumable costs, in particular gas usage, were also investigated during the last three weeks of last season at Albury pool and projections stacked up to further scrutiny.
Overall operational costs for a four or six week extension to the Albury pool would add at least $100,000 to the $470,164 already allocated.
It was based on at least 60 visits per day and opening both morning and afternoon for reduced periods.
The price also takes into account reduced management cost for cutting the Lavington pool season by two weeks at each end of the season.
Cr Henk van de Ven supported the recommendation not to extend the season.
"With the current aquatics strategy being undertaken by SGL I think the numbers that have come out of that exercise have confirmed to us this is something we can't afford," he said.
"We have consulted a lot with the community and it is prohibitive for us to extend the season with the outdoor facilities we currently have."
Regular pool users are forced to use privately operated indoor 25 metre pools when summer ends.