IN diving it's best not to make a big splash upon entering the water – it's a sign of a poorly-executed jump.
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But the same rule does not apply to the politics of planning, where if you don't make a splash during the embryonic stages of a project, you can be ignored as construction is executed.
That was the situation confronting the Albury Diving Club as groundwork for a new aquatics centre was undertaken.
Members felt aggrieved that Albury Council appeared to be ignoring their sport in planning for a fresh pool complex.
Instead of meekly accepting that scenario, the club began a petition and collected more than 950 signatories supporting the inclusion of diving in ongoing planning.
The council's community and cultural committee has now accepted that petition and adopted a recommendation that explicitly states one and three-metre springboards will be factored into development work.
It is a hopeful sign for the diving fraternity.
However, Lavington Swim Centre, home to the diving club, faces a grimmer future.
The council's aquatics facilities advisory committee has flagged its demise in a recommendation on the fate of the city's aquatics strategy.
It has stated it does "support the development of a regional facility at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre and regretfully the future closure of one of the existing outdoor facilities (most logically the Lavington Swim Centre)".
The community and cultural committee is yet to write-off Lavington pool, with it deciding to urge the council to continue to investigate two options.
They are the retention of the existing two swimming centres and the development of a new aquatic centre at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre in tandem with maintaining the Albury pools.
It is apparent the council is now reaching a crunch decision, having sought feedback on the fate of the city's pools to help guide it to a verdict.
Financial prudence, as much as pressure from pool users, is likely to figure highly.
A new centre at the stadium and retaining the Albury pool is tipped to cost $46 million.
"Pointless waste of money" and "DO NOT SPEND ANY MORE MONEY WE DO NOT HAVE!" are among two responses submitted to the council's consultant.
Councillors will now have to weigh economic costs against health benefits that can be provided by improved aquatic centres.
