In a report to Thursday's meeting of the Queenstown Lakes District Council, the council's general manager operations, Ruth Stokes, recommends tender documents be prepared for stage one of the new facility - two indoor courts, changing rooms, storage, outdoor artificial courts - expected to cost $13.4 million.
However, she suggested a 25m, six-lane lap pool and learn-to-swim pool at the facility go into the council's long-term plan to be ''delivered'' by the council in the 2020-21 year.
Ms Stokes noted the total cost of all the facilities talked about, including the pool and a gym which is not part of stage one, would be $23.25 million.
Ms Stokes also recommended the council, in the short term, go ahead with ''enhanced remediation'' of the existing pool, at a cost of $150,000.
In March, the council resolved to refurbish the existing Wanaka pool rather than build one at the new sports facility.
However, an engineer's report in July found the existing pool did not meet earthquake regulations, and the pool was closed.
Ms Stokes said a decision to pursue a new pool now would be significant ''given the departure from the long-term plan and the level of unbudgeted expenditure proposed''.
Her recommendation, to build the pool in 2020-21 rather than now, was made because of the rating implications for the Wanaka community.
Also on the table is an option put up by Northlake Investments Ltd planning 1400 sections in its subdivision between Wanaka and the Clutha River.
The company is contemplating a four-lane, 25m lap pool and toddler pool, with 33 car parks, near the entrance to its development and is suggesting that, rather than building the pool at the sports facility in the Three Parks subdivision, it build it at Northlake.
It has offered some free land and at least $2.5 million towards the cost.
In her report, Ms Stokes said a stand-alone pool would add between $400,000 and $2 million to building costs and would cost more to run.
She recommended the council agree to have staff further investigate ''the potential and implications'' of an agreement with Northlake for a four-lane pool and toddler pool.
