While the idea is only one option for Milton, Mayor Bryan Cadogan said a new hub would also be more efficient than having the town's assets scattered.
The council voted at yesterday's meeting in Balclutha for Mr Cadogan's suggestion it broaden the scope of the Milton Library and Service Centre project to include consideration of a swimming pool as an option.
Mr Cadogan said after the meeting the district's population had been in ``terminal decline'' for the last 25 years.
``If we don't address this, every issue we come to in the district with the lack of numbers for the hospital, the school, the retail, for the community groups, for the sports groups, it all comes down to the ramifications of the ageing population.
``We can keep our heads in the sand or we can pull them out and say, `hey, what actions, what steps do we need to take to inject and revitalise our communities?'''
Milton residents last year provided feedback on the Our Place Milton community plan, which was developed to help determine the projects and priorities for the town.
Some of the ideas in the plan centred on what the council could do with its key facilities, and how to work with the community to make it happen.
In November the council approved as priorities an upgrade of the main street, future-proofing or replacing the swimming pool, aiding development, developing or upgrading walking and cycling routes, parks, and community and visitor facilities.
It voted for further information to be developed so the public could be consulted on the options in the area's long term plan.
Mr Cadogan said yesterday he had noticed during the consultation period ``a fear of the unknown''.
That included concern about the cost of the swimming pool, which has had problems with a cracked base.
He said the pool was more than 50 years old, and a solution had to be found.
There were problems with the Milton information centre and library, including earthquake-proofing issues.
The council had wider aspirations for all its communities to use their ``collective strengths'', rather than scattering assets around towns.
If that was done there would be no need for multiple car parks, multiple lighting, or people at various front desks for each asset.
The council was also considering revitalising the main street.
``One way of doing it would be to put a lovely new building there.''
If the swimming pool had to go somewhere, it could go in that building.
``I'm not saying let's do the project.''
Instead he was asking for it to be considered, so the council could go back to the community with options and costings, including the cost of ``one big hub''.
``People can make their decisions with the facts, rather than the fear.''
After that was done, the funding models for any development could be developed and included in the long term plan.
