The extraordinary meeting to deal with a rescission motion on holding a community poll about aquatics facilities as part of the September local government elections has laid the basis for a potentially heated campaign.

The rescission motion as proposed by former mayor Alice Glachan was successful after present mayor Henk van de Ven spectacularly back-flipped on his support for the poll just a week ago.

Aquatics users including the Fish Out of Water lobby group are desperate for improved facilities.

But the big question remains how will an indoor 50-metre indoor pool complex estimated to cost up to $50 million be funded.

The council’s recent record of attracting NSW Government support for major projects is not great and some members of the present council rightfully have reservations about the city plunging into more debt to finance an aquatics mega facility if external funding is not forthcoming.

There can’t be enough community consultation on a project of this magnitude.

The Border Mail posed the same question proposed for the community poll in an online survey: Are you in favour of Albury Council spending up to $50 million to build a new FINA standard aquatic centre and closing Lavington Swim Centre?

The response from the 232 respondents was 145 in favour and 87 against.

Some sections of the council clearly didn’t want the poll to go ahead, fearful of the result potentially stopping the project in its tracks.

Albury’s aquatics facilities are tired and need regenerating.

But the pool poll question was criticised for being too narrow, inflammatory and ill-conceived.

If so why didn’t those councillors so opposed to the question not speak up a week ago and try to amend the motion carried on the casting vote of the mayor Cr van de Ven.

Many of the existing council will front up for re-election in September with aquatics facilities the big ticket issue.

It would be a shock if a ticket of candidates from the aquatics community didn’t stand.

Existing councillors such as Darren Cameron have laid their cards on the table on the aquatics super centre.

He rightly points out the election will be largely a referendum on pools.