Mosgiel-Taieri residents will have another chance to have a say on their preferences for a new pool complex in Mosgiel next month.
Dunedin city councillors have accepted that any new complex would include at least two pools, a learners' pool and a lap pool.
The most comprehensive option would include four pools, a learners', lap, leisure and hydrotherapy pools, the last of which is considered to potentially appeal to a growing older Mosgiel population, thereby increasing any revenue.
But the council has decided, at this stage, not to commit any funding in the next 10 years, despite a request from the Taieri Community Facilities Trust to begin funnelling through funding in the next few years, to assist it with its own fund-raising.
The trust has pledged, should the council go with the four-pool option, to raise half the cost of the complex - about $7.5 million - but has said moving quickly is the key, to take best advantage of the current energy in the community for the project.
The council almost agreed to put $700,000 a year in its 10-year budget, starting from 2018-19, for a four-pool complex, but faltered at the last minute amid concerns such a facility would become a ''destination'' attracting people away from using the inner city and ultimately increasing infrastructure costs for all ratepayers.
The pool complex, with various options outlined and how much each would cost ratepayers, will be included as an ''unfunded item'' in a draft long-term plan, which will be consulted on in March.
Feedback from residents will be considered by councillors in May.
They will then decide whether the project, in one form or other, should remain unfunded.
Taieri Community Facilities Trust chairman Michael Stedman said the trust had not yet recieved any communication from the council as to what the outcome of the debate on the pool was.
Until this was recieved he could not comment.
''We can't comment on what we don't know,'' he said.
