Colbinabbin residents have started a campaign to fight the potential loss of four pools across Campaspe shire.

The closure of the pools is the third of three options for the future of aquatic services in the shire outlined in a discussion paper the council released for public comment on Tuesday, April 19.

Under this option, the pools at Colbinabbin, Lockington, Stanhope and Tongala would be demolished and all aquatic services in the shire concentrated at Echuca, Rushworth, Rochester and Kyabram.

The other options are to retain all facilities or replace the pools at Colbinabbin, Lockington, Stanhope and Tongala with water play features and upgrade facilities at the other towns.

Members of the Colbinabbin Pool Action Group say the retention of the pools is the only suitable option for the smaller communities.

The group has launched a petition to garner support for its cause, the online version attracting more than 460 signatures within five days.

“We want to send a very clear message to council that our pools are an incredibly important part of our communities and that it is imperative to look at options to retain the few council services we have,” group convenor Michelle Rathjen said.

Other residents said the Colbinabbin pool played a vital part in the social life of the community.

The report put to council at its ordinary meeting recommended it release the discussion paper for public comment and endorse the third option as its preference, but council instead opted to release the paper without affirming a preferred option.

Mayor Leigh Wilson said the council decided against voicing a preferred option because it suggested that would be the definite plan of action council would take.

Cr Wilson said the major issue surrounding the future of the pools was financial sustainability.

He said within 10 years the council would have $10 million of assets it would not be able to repair or replace, and if the community nominated the pools as some of the most important pieces of infrastructure, cuts would have to be made elsewhere.

According to the discussion paper, the costs associated with running pools have risen significantly and increases to entry fees have provided a small offset against these costs.

The paper says that the concentration of aquatic facilities at Echuca, Rushworth, Rochester and Kyabram would reduce cut operating costs by about $4.9 million over 15 years.

The paper is available at the council’s website and customer service centres.

Submissions can be made until June 24.