The push to retain a 50-metre pool in the town appears doomed with administrator Mike Eden confirming the only "caveat" on an indoor pool, a learn to swim size pool and splash park, was annual operating costs.

The indoor option could cost an additional $3 million to build, but Mr Eden said Corowa residents deserved a pool they could use for 12 months.

"The people of Corowa and Federation Council deserve the best and have something they can be proud of," he said.

"More than 30 per cent of the population are pensioner age and a heated pool with all the facilities for rehabilitation for the elderly in our community is important.

"The only caveat being if it is ridiculously expensive to run, which I don't think it will be.

"If it's going to lose $800,000 per year it can't be done."

The preferred Corowa aquatics option will be confirmed at Federation Council's final meeting of the year at Urana on Tuesday.

Mr Eden said consultants, Otium Planning, was still crunching the numbers for an indoor venue.

They recommended a 25-metre outdoor pool which could be covered at a later date with the preferred option estimated to cost $5.7 million.

Mr Eden said the council could tap into some of the $9 million community infrastructure funding as part of the Corowa-Urana merger to help cover the additional cost for the indoor facility.

Corowa's 50-metre pool is 60-years-old and been in need of replacement for many years.

As part of a recent survey, Corowa residents indicated they would be prepared to pay more in rates to bankroll construction of a replacement 50-metre pool.

An upgrade or replacement of the pool has been on council's agenda for nearly a decade and took a backseat to the creation of the civic centre at the former Corowa Bowling Club headquarters.

Work on a replacement pool would begin next year and leave the town without a pool next summer.