COROWA residents will have the best of both worlds after Federation Council on Tuesday agreed to borrow $1.5 million to build an outdoor and indoor pool in the town.
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The long-running saga took a positive turn when the council unanimously decided to push ahead with an eight-lane 50m outdoor pool and 25m indoor pool with an overall price tag of an estimated $9.46 million.
It will now proceed with a design and construct tender which will provide further clarity on the final cost.
Deputy mayor Shaun Whitechurch said all sections of the community would be satisfied with the decision.
"If this council commits to $1.5 million to see both pools built, an indoor and outdoor for the whole shire, we are going to provide all-year round training for kids as well as people who want to use it for therapy," he said.
"One previous councillor and ex-mayor (Gary Poidevin) said it was the worst decision he had seen in local government for 30 years and another prominent member of the community said there was no way we would get both facilities."
"We've got limited borrowing (capacity), but we get one go at this."
Mr Poidevin welcomed the decision.
"I'd been pushing for the indoor pool because of the ageing population versus the outdoor pool where it can't be used in winter," he said.
"I think it is a good result."
The original Corowa pool was built in 1956 and the replacement pools were expected to have a lifespan of more than half a century.
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Federation Council area residents travel to Wangaratta and Wodonga for learn to swim and water aerobics in winter.
But, Cr Paul Miegel praised the two pool option, but was concerned with annual operating costs to be borne by ratepayers.
"I don't want to rain on the parade, but I think it is necessary to consider the elephant in the room," he said.
"We haven't seen any projections on what this is going to cost to run and can we keep the doors open?
"It would be unfair to put a millstone around the community's neck for the next 50 to 60 years to afford something that is going to be an ongoing burden."
Engineering services director Steve Carmichael said annual operating costs would be included in a full business case analysis to be carried out before council awards the construction to build the replacement facility.
Cr Fred Longmire said he was supportive of securing private investment with the option of naming rights as an incentive.
"Let's go forward and have something for the future," he said.