Cr Vandervis asked at yesterday's annual plan deliberations whether councillors could could remove or put off the $6 million place-holder budget set aside in the 2018-19 budget for the pool.
He asked the question given recent indications the council will need to invest"significantly more'' in infrastructure and protections against erosion at Ocean Beach.
Chief executive Sue Bidrose said it was an "entirely political call'' and councillors could add or remove from the budget "anything you like''.
The council had allocated the $6 million on the proviso Taieri Communities Facility Trust raised money towards the project.
In the past the council would honour its understanding with the group once it had raised the money.
"That has not happened yet,'' Dr Bidrose said.
In response to questioning, she said there had been good progress from discussions between the trust and the council.
Trust chairwoman Irene Mosley said she was not surprised by Cr Vandervis' comment.
"Cr Vandervis has always made it clear that he is not a supporter of the Mosgiel pool project and he has stood firm on that view.''
