WODONGA Council is holding firm in its opposition to joining a cross-border committee exploring the possibility of building a $55 million indoor pool complex despite pressure from Albury.
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The first rejection of the Albury request came in February and has repeated its preference for any progress on aquatics facilities be dealt with in the Two Cities, One Community arena.
"Through the Two Cities One Community partnership, there is an existing working group that works, at a strategic level, on joint initiatives as well as the work that is being done on the future regional city deal," Wodonga chief executive Mark Dixon said.
"Investigating a regional aquatics facility is a key action in the Two Cities, One Community action plan and we are, and will, continue to work in close partnership with with Albury on this issue through our many existing forums.
"It boils down to using our council resources in an efficient and effective way."
Community members will be invited to join the Albury aquatics facilities advisory committee.
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The Two Cities, One Community working groups consists of Albury mayor Kevin Mack, Cr Murray King and Cr Henk van de Ven and Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie, Cr John Watson and Cr Danny Lowe.
The group last met in May and considered an action plan for 2019-20 and ongoing projects, which includes a regional aquatics facility.
Meanwhile, the option of extending the Wodonga 25m indoor pool has been raised as a compromise by ratepayers association president Ian Deegan, who was the city mayor when it opened.
"It would be a lot cheaper than building a new one," he said.
"We didn't want a 50m pool at that stage (1993) because we didn't have the money.
"But the land was bought and the infrastructure put in to one day extend it."
Mr Dixon said a larger pool could be accommodated at the facility, but the present master-plan from 2015 doesn't include an extension of the pool.
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