UPDATE: THE City of Greater Bendigo believes it will save more than $900,000 over 10 years to build a 25 metre pool at the Kangaroo Flat aquatic centre rather than a 50 metre pool.
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The centre is projected to post operating deficits throughout its first 10 years.
Under council's modeling, the 25 metre pool would record an operating deficit of $920,534 over 10 years.
The 50 metre option would post an operating deficit of $1.84 million for the same period.
The savings would be on top of an almost $4 million saving in constructing the smaller pool option - from $30 million down to $26.15 million. Council projects it will save $2.3 million in "aquatic works" building the 25 metre pool.
The numbers were outlined in the City of Greater Bendigo's business case for the Kangaroo Flat aquatic centre, released on Tuesday.
The business case states 420,000 people will visit the pool each year, which is "conservative and likely to be achieved".
The number of visitors would rise to 470,000 after the "business establishment period". The Peter Krenz Leisure Centre in Eaglehawk attracts 350,000 visit per year.
An extra 30,000 per year were expected to visit the centre should a 50 metre pool be built.
The business case, written by City of Greater Bendigo director of city futures Stan Liacos, states the larger pool would require greater costs to operate.
"The annual operating deficit is directly impacted by the relatively higher cost to operate the 51.5 metre pool which requires more significant supervision, energy for heating of water and air and maintenance allowance for this large water body and building structure," he said.
The construction of the pool would allow for the closure of the Golden Square, Long Gully and Kangaroo Flat outdoor pools, but Golden Square would have the option of continuing operating.
Council spends $200,000 per annum on these pools.
Kangaroo Flat Community Enterprise welcomed the release of the business case.
Group president Jack Lyons said the council needed to "listen to the community" and build the 50 metre pool.
"The operating cost differences identified in the report can clearly be covered by the offer from the Kangaroo Flat Community Enterprise to raise $1m for the project," he said.
"The average operating cost of the 50 metre pool, now and over the next decade, pales into insignificance when compared to the net loss each year of $482,000 at the Bendigo Aquatic Centre at Barnard Street.
"Is anyone suggesting closing that?"
Mr Lyons said the community would not question the benefits of the Bendigo Art Gallery and the Capital Theatre, despite their operating costs.
He said the group would prepare its budget submission having seen the business case.
EARLIER: The City of Greater Bendigo has released the business case for the proposed aquatic centre at Kangaroo Flat.
The document does not contain commercial-in-confidence information.
Mayor Peter Cox said the document could help "inform public submissions" on the centre as part of the 2015/16 budget process.
"The Council is keen to ensure that community members have access to all the information they need to put together their Budget submissions for consideration," he said.
The council chose to reduce the proposed pool from 50 metres to 25 metres in its proposed budget.
The centre will include an indoor splash play area, learn to swim pool, hydrotherapy pool, wellness centre, spa and sauna, gymnasium, multipurpose rooms and cafe.
Submissions to the draft Budget and Council Plan update close on Friday May 15.
To view the business case, visit www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/aquaticcentre.
