ALBURY'S aquatics community is being urged to turn up in force to a council meeting on Monday night and help revive plans for an indoor pool.
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The chances of a $50 million regional aquatics facility being built in Albury is on the brink of being buried with a majority of councillors in favour of retaining the Albury and Lavington pools which are only open in summer months.
Fish Out of Water lobby group members took to the Murray River on Friday to highlight the need for an all-year round pool.
Spokesman Stuart Baker also met with mayor Kevin Mack hours later with a plea not to kill off a regional facility in Albury.
"We want as many people to turn and show their displeasure at the retrograde and stupid step of maintaining the status quo when it is clearly not working," he said.
"We have an open mind to a regional aquatics facility based at Lauren Jackson Sports Centre or in Wodonga as long as it caters for all-year round needs.
"It could be a good story if it was sold correctly."
Wodonga Council chief executive Patience Harrington said her council was prepared to talk about the twin cities' future pools needs.
"We recognise Albury is working through a process in regards to the future of its aquatics facilities and Wodonga, respectfully, will await that process to be finalised," she said.
"In regards to a joint approach, Wodonga will continue what are early discussions with Albury on the future of aquatics and the possibilities for our communities."
Wodonga's WAVES complex has only been developed to stage one level with ample land for another pool to be built.
But some Albury councillors remain sceptical about a joint approach.
The recommendation to pursue the status quo could be adopted without further debate.
Cr Alice Glachan maintained her support for an all-year facility.
"It is most unfortunate the committee discussed the report on the aquatics facility on Monday night and on Tuesday the state government included in some of their budget announcements there would be funding towards swimming pools in regional NSW," she said.
"If you want to achieve that sort of an outcome it's not something that you start tomorrow.
"It takes years in the planning and another number of years in the development.