However, it also got the thumbs-down - from those who believed the town could not afford a 50m pool, or even the council's proposed $11.8 million, 25m pool in the new Three Parks subdivision.
One of the most enthusiastic backers of a 50m pool was Wanaka Swim Club member Claire Lambourne, who believed it would attract national swimming competitions and elite athletes, and also provide more room for coaches and their swimmers.
Ms Lambourne said Wanaka had ''got ourselves into a complete mess'' over pool options and she sympathised with the council.
She believed the town needed to ''build big'', ''build for the future'' and take out a 50-year loan if necessary.
Brian Hopley, who worked in sport management, favoured an eight-lane 50m pool, and was concerned at the difficulties of extending a 25m pool in future.
And swim club official Alan Humphrey believed a 50m pool was the best option, provided it had spectator seating, storage and meeting and control rooms.
Wanaka resident John Walker reminded councillors some members of the community would struggle to afford the rates increase likely to result from even a 25m pool.
Mr Walker reminded councillors the Wanaka Lions Club, of which he is a member, split firewood for some who were unable to afford to keep warm in winter. He urged the swimming community to take more responsibility for providing its facilities, as the yacht and rugby clubs did.
Colleen Carr, of Lake Hawea, said a community pool was for teaching children to swim, and it was ''absolutely vital'' the pool stayed where it was, in Plantation Rd, near Wanaka's schools.
Resident Maurice Duckmanton agreed and said council information that went out to the public was biased against the existing pool.
Neville Harris, who helped build the existing pool, also believed council information ''pointed unfairly'' to a new pool at Three Parks, and he believed while a new pool would be needed in future, the existing pool was adequate in the meantime.
Wanaka Residents' Association representative Sally Batson said its concerns were all about the ''fiscal burden''.
''Look at Dunedin and what happened there,'' Ms Battson said referring to the Forsyth Barr stadium.
Duncan Good, who chaired the sports facility steering group, said but for budget considerations, the group would have recommended a new 25m pool and learners pool as part of the sports facility at Three Parks earlier this year rather than an upgrade of the existing pool.
He considered there had been a ''strong divide'' over the location of the pool then, but now there was a strong feeling in favour of an eight-lane pool at Three Parks.
Wanaka Sports Action Group founder Quentin Smith, representing 400 followers, told the hearing the council should opt for the 25m Three Parks proposal and sell some assets to reduce the rating impact to an average below $100 per year.
He did not consider a 50m pool a priority.
Community board chairwoman Rachel Brown said while she was concerned about how Wanaka could pay for a new pool, the existing pool was ''stuffed''. And she considered it would be ''really stupid'' not to build an ice rink next to a new pool, so a heat exchange system could be included.
Three Parks developer Alan Dippie believed the council's pool survey had given it a mandate to go ahead with a new pool at Three Parks and the council should not wait until 2020-21 to build it.
He considered there should be an average rate increase of less than $100, with the council exploring the ''massive potential'' for corporate support.
The developers behind the North Lake subdivision, Chris and Michaela Meehan, who have a rival pool proposal, did not attend the hearing.
However, lawyer Warwick Goldsmith presented a proposal showing a 20m by 7.5m pool suitable for learners but also with room for two swimming lanes.
Council chief executive Adam Feeley said it was his understanding the Northlake proposal would mean the existing pool was given over to lane swimming while learners would use the warmer Northlake pool.
Paul Lloyd, of Apollo Projects, told a workshop after the hearing his company could arrange for a stainless steel Natare Pool to be built for $7.9 million, complete with learners pool and ''splash pad''.
He did not have a view on the best location.
