In June, council called for submissions on three options for the pool.

The high-embellishment option included indoor 25- and 51-metre pools, costing $48 million. The medium-cost option was for an indoor 25- and outdoor 51-metre pool, costing $39.9 million. The third was the current pool.

Turner Park was endorsed as the preferred site.

Cessnock Pool Users Group chairperson Phil Murray said the group was not politically aligned but had been contacted by the Greens and the Liberals, who had outlined their pool plans.

Greens mayoral candidate James Ryan has announced his support for a fully indoor aquatic centre.

Greens council candidates also made a submission to council in which they prioritised greater disability access than the current proposal.

Liberal mayoral candidate Rod Doherty has committed to fast-tracking construction of two indoor pools if the Liberals form a majority council.

Mr Murray said Bob Pynsent, Allan Stapleford and four other outgoing councillors signed a pledge before the 2012 election to have the new pool shovel-ready by June 2016.

Independent mayoral candidate John Harvey also signed the pledge, but was not elected in 2012.

He has renewed his support for getting the project under way quickly by attaining government grants, but said he would look at alternate locations that “might be better suited”.

Fellow Independent candidate Ian Olsen said his group supported a new pool but needed to be realistic about funding.

“We cannot chase any funds until it is shovel-ready,” he said.

Labor’s Bob Pynsent was also cautious about funding as a new pool would involve “significant” rate rises.

He said his decision would rely on the results of the public exhibition.

Mr Murray said the users’ group realised funding would be an issue, but would “leave that to the experts”.

The masters swimmer said the pool users were satisfied with the disability access proposed in the council report. He agreed that other sites may be better suited, but would still be “ecstatic” with Turner Park.