WANGARATTA'S replacement outdoor pool has plunged into doubt in the short-term with the project missing out on a $4 million funding application to the federal government.
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Wangaratta Council could be forced to extend the life of the ageing Olympic Pool which was earmarked to shut when the new 50-metre outdoor pool was added to the Barr Reserve complex.
The council has already met strong community opposition to closing the Yarrunga pool and replacing it with a nearby splash park.
It is also paying almost $150,000 to operate the Olympic Pool and earlier this year encountered an additional cost to fix a changerooms brick wall that unexpectedly collapsed.
Council chief executive Brendan McGrath said the federal government would be approached about why its funding bid failed and then re-load for round three opening early next year.
"This has been one of the key priorities for our team," he said.
"We are obviously very disappointed.
"But this is part of the nature of the business we are in.
"They are competitive programs and are very heavily subscribed.
"Lots of people who got funding in round two were unsuccessful from round one so that augurs pretty well for us for round three."
The Olympic Pool is expected to remain open in the 2016-17 season, but will shut when the new pool is built.
State government funding of $3 million is also being sought and Wangaratta Swim Club has committed $100,000 to the project.
Wangaratta Turf Club also missed out in the second round.
It was chasing $2 million to create a new access road into the racecourse to allow further development of the training and stables precinct.
