MEMBER for Bendigo Lisa Chesters has backed mayor Peter Cox over his statements that the City of Greater Bendigo should not rush into paying its share for the Kangaroo Flat Aquatic Centre.

The mayor was responding to claims from the Kangaroo Flat Community Enterprise that Bendigo would become a "laughing stock" if it pulled out of the $30 million project.

Ms Chesters said as the council scaled back its childcare and aged care responsibilities, it did would not be financially prudent to jump into the Kangaroo Flat pool without a business case.

"We're in an environment where local government is considering closing aged care and childcare services, sometimes it's a matter of where our priorities lie," she said.

"Like with all good projects, it's about considering the timing and seeing whether we can really afford it."

The City of Greater Bendigo gave an update on its Aged and Disability Services Review on Wednesday, in which the union stated council would either "re-engineer" its services or privatise it altogether.

Council also announced it would close the Bendigo Early Learning Centre in Park Road from the end of 2015.

Ms Chesters said with these recent decisions in mind, councillors were making the right decision in waiting for a business case before proceeding with their contribution to the Kangaroo Flat Aquatic Centre.

"I disagree with the suggestion that Bendigo will be a laughing stock for being financially prudent," she said.

"Council is demonstrating maturity."

The City of Greater Bendigo is considering 19 projects of more than $1 million in its long-term financial planning.

Among them is the expansion of the Bendigo Airport. Council agreed to apply for funding for the project from the Federal Government's $1 billion stronger regions fund.

Ms Chesters said the airport expansion is the only project she has been asked to lobby for on behalf of the council.

Kangaroo Flat Community Enterprise disputed Ms Chesters' views, stating the pool had previously been one of her priorities.

Group spokesperson Sarah Mulqueen said they were disappointed with the comments from the Member for Bendigo.

"Ms Chesters’ comments today differ from the views of the community and seem to differ from her own previous views," she said.

"In August 2013, a couple of months before she was elected, Ms Chesters listed the pool as a priority for her in her first-term.

"She said facilities such as the pool were important for her and important for Labor. She said it was part of Labor making Bendigo and Central Victoria a great place to live and work. Has that changed?"

Mrs Mulqueen said there had been numerous business cases showing the aquatic centre could be a viable option.

"There have also been numerous business cases over the years about the project’s viability," she said.

"It wouldn’t have been able to attract $15 million of funding from the State Government without one."