A report with seven options for the city’s next major aquatics facility will be presented to councillors at Monday’s meeting.

But Cr Darren Cameron has already flagged his opposition to the entire project via The Border Mail’s Facebook page.

“There is no way the City of Albury can afford a $45 million Chlorinated Palace of Versailles just so a small number of people, many who are not Albury ratepayers, will have somewhere nice for their morning swim in winter,” he said.

“After the art gallery and if the redevelopment of the Lavington oval goes ahead, we simply cannot afford it.

“I will be fighting this proposal every way I can.”

Consultants identified Lauren Jackson Sports Centre as the best option to build a $46 million regional complex, including a 51.5 metre indoor pool.

Mayor Henk van de Ven said the option could be the best use of council’s funds as it would open up the facility to health programs and big events, not just lap swimmers.

He said the idea had been flagged back as far as 2006.

The report found the cost to retain and refurbish the two existing outdoor pools was $20 million.

“This is a $20m decision due (Monday) night, I would hope the councillors would look at the best option,” Cr van de Ven said.

“There’s a range of views on this particular issue.

“It’s disappointing that councillors seemed to have made up their minds before the report’s come up to council.”

The council report recommended the draft AlburyCity Aquatics Strategy be endorsed and released for public comment.

Cr van de Ven said no decision had been made and he was happy to discuss the option with fellow councillors and the public.

“It’s going to be a situation where we do need to have the community come along with it,” he said.

“We need to respect each other’s views, we need to respect each other’s points of view.”

Facebook comments on the aquatics strategy also included criticism that none of the options included diving facilities if Lavington Swim Centre did close.

“We have and have had some amazingly talented divers in Albury Wodonga who cannot compete at a top level due to no diving facilities,” Susan Pickard said.