Darren Cameron on Tuesday night called on his fellow councillors to drop further investigation into a new pool being constructed at the sports centre and to keep the Albury and Lavington swimming centres.

“I think that we need to take a stand on this issue and we need to stop giving oxygen to this fire that is developing in our community,” Cr Cameron said.

“This city is not in a position … to afford another major project to the tune of $40 to $50 million for a chlorinated palace of Versailles at the Lauren Jackson centre or anywhere else.

“The city's finances will not bear it and the future of this city in servicing and maintaining such a facility would find a overwhelming burden which we would be bequeathing to future generations which would require more than one special rate variation.”

Deputy mayor David Thurley rejected Cr Cameron's “chlorinated palace of Versailles for a minor group of people” claim.

“I am not saying right here I intend to vote for such a thing, but I do believe that we need to continue the strategy to get information on which we can base a decision,” Cr Thurley said.

Former mayor Alice Glachan said having a new aquatic centre would add to Albury's vibrancy and attract regional visitors.

“It will continue to cost council a significant amount of money to retain those now ageing facilities, to the point that it won't be very much longer until some dire renovations, costing an enormous amount, will need to be undertaken on one, if not both pools,” Cr Glachan said. 

“Unless we do something we will have less and less people going to those pools because they will become less and less attractive to our community.”

Cr Ross Jackson backed Cr Cameron's move, while their colleague Graham Docksey said he was concerned at the prospect of Lavington pool closing.

Mayor Henk van de Ven stressed there was much work to be done before “a viable funding strategy” was found for any pool plans.

“For us not to go ahead with any of those strategies because we might not get any federal or state funding – well we may as well all take our bat and ball home because what is the point,” Cr van de Ven said.

Cr Cameron's motion was lost 6-2 with the council opting to pursue two options – retaining the existing pools or building a new centre at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre and keeping Albury complex.

Further analysis will now be done on those choices for council's consideration.