The centre has been earmarked for demolition to make way for the new Kangaroo Flat Aquatic Centre.

The survey was conducted by Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards who said she’d received about 700 responses so far.

“I thought it was important that the community have a say about this,” she said.

“The ultimate decision is up to the (council) but I would hope that if the trend continues with the return of the survey that council will take notice of what the majority of the community of Kangaroo Flat want.”

Kangaroo Flat Community Leisure Centre Committee chair Don McKinnon said he had recently had fresh plans drawn up which would accommodate both facilities on the same site.

“We think they’re superior plans, in fact an independent architect has told me they’re superior plans,” he said.

“We’re not altering the architectural design of the building at all, all we’re doing is changing the siting of it.”

Mr McKinnon said the council had so far been reluctant to discuss the idea of retaining the centre.

“Officially they’ve made a decision and they’re not really showing much interest in us so we’ve still got to break down that hurdle and say let’s just have a look at this,” he said.

“I’m hoping we’re not too far apart but the way it’s been handled by putting the demolition in with the construction project has split the community really.”

City of Greater Bendigo mayor Peter Cox said it would take a “substantial community response” for the council to reconsider its current plans.

“If we had to review the project it would probably need another planning application, so it’s going back to square one and I think the community probably wouldn’t tolerate that,” he said.

“Whatever they present to council needs to be very substantial, clear evidence that the vast majority of the community would like to see change at this late point.

“At this point in time the project as passed by council will proceed.”