A GROUP is being launched next month to fight for a new regional aquatics centre to be built in Albury.
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Community for Aquatics plans to campaign for the construction of a swimming hub and will consider running a ticket at next year's Albury council election.
The city's 2007-08 mayor Stuart Baker is the spokesman for the organisation which according to its slogan wants "A better deal for our region".
"The group is going to push for an all-year round facility and it's going to include the allied health sector and the disability sector, everybody who needs the facility for everyday life," Mr Baker said.
"It will be building a profile, telling personal stories and highlighting what we haven't got, compared to comparable cities around Australia, and emphasising the need."
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Mr Baker said: "The take out (from that meeting) was that they aren't overly keen in discussing where aquatics is heading and it's up to us to help the community understand what's planned."
He is concerned the council has abandoned the pursuit of a regional aquatic centre at Lauren Jackson stadium, which will be the site for the new group's launch.
The venue's honoree, basketball ace Lauren Jackson, has endorsed the lobby group, Mr Baker said.
Councillors noted the likelihood of $15 million from the federal and state governments for the indoor pool was remote.
Mr Baker said he was told by Border state and federal MPs there was money available if the council sought it.
He pointed to data in a consultant's planning report for the council in 2017.
It showed over a ten-year period the loss per visit to ratepayers would be $4.55 if Albury and Lavington pools were kept, 57 cents if Albury stayed and a regional hub built and 37 cents if Lauren Jackson stadium was the city's only aquatics site.
Mr Baker did not rule out being on a ticket of candidates for next September's council election.