The preferred site for the new swimming facility was listed as Turner Park on Aberdare Road, where the cricket oval is currently situated.

Three options were included in the report, one being the existing pool to compare to the other two options.

The medium embellishment option included an outdoor eight lane 51-metre pool at a cost of $39.9 million.

The high embellishment option incorporated a 51-metre indoor 10 lane pool and a creche and is estimated at $48 million.

Both options would include a 25-metre indoor pool, a leisure pool, a warm water program pool, a learn-to-swim pool, a spa, sauna, water slides, outdoor water play area and car parking. 

Financial modelling based on the next 10 years showed that it is more effective to build a new facility than to keep funding repairs and maintenance of the existing Cessnock Pool, which was built in 1935.

The recommendation of the report was to exhibit the matter for 28 days, but councillors voted on an amendment to extend that period to 60 days.

This means the exhibition period will carry over to after council goes into caretaker mode ahead of the council election on September 10.

Councillor Ian Olsen said the high embellishment pool was “clearly the better option.”

He said the new centre should incorporate an indoor 10 lane 51-metre pool.

“Why would we build another outdoor pool?” It cannot be used all year round,” he said.

“Are we just looking at the dollars, or as usual in this council, taking second best option?”

Cr Olsen also opposed the current location due to traffic problems.

Councillor Morgan Campbell said providing two options simply gave people choice.

“It gives people the chance to assess the two, and see what might actually meet their needs,” he said.

“By having two options there, all we’re doing is giving ourselves the best possible choice and not locking ourselves into a position we might not ever able to afford.”

RELATED COVERAGE: Pool Users Group wants 51-metre indoor pool