A public meeting in Clyde this week heard that the cost of having the pool repaired and a new filtration system installed would be about $700,000. If that had to be paid by Clyde ratepayers, it would cost them an extra $122 each a year
Only three Clyde residents attended the meeting and, although they would like to see the pool retained, they did not think it would happen.
Sally Bell, of Clyde, said many people who lived in the town either went to Lake Dunstan or the pool in Alexandra, while Carol Haig, also of Clyde, said she would be sad to see the pool go but was resigned to the fact that it might unless it was better utilised.
"You have to move with the times. It's a different society we live in today."
The school bused its pupils to the Molyneux Aquatic Centre in Alexandra, which was cheaper than it contributing towards upgrading the Clyde pool, Ms Higginson said.
The pool was owned by the CRRB before it gave it to the Central Otago District Council.
CRRB chairwoman, Karen Bain, said over the years it had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the pool to keep it running.
"That's why we said to the council, 'if you want it, you'll have to take it over'.
"It will be a shame to see it go, but it's probably a thing of the past. Surely the $700,000 could be spent elsewhere," Mrs Bain said.
"That's a big pot of money."
A few holidaymakers staying at the camping ground would miss it, she said, "but many people use the lake anyway".
The situation in Roxburgh is quite different, with the proposed new Roxburgh Swim Centre having moved a step closer.
The project team behind it, made up of representatives from the Roxburgh Community Board, Roxburgh Area School and Central Otago District Council staff, this week appointed Christchurch project management company Joseph and Associates to prepare a concept design for a new $1.6 million two-pool centre.
Roxburgh Community Board chairman Stephen Jeffery said the company chosen developed the award-winning Franz Joseph hot pools.
"The team from Joseph's had innovative ideas and concepts and were fully aware of budget restraints," Mr Jeffery said.
The concept designs will be funded by the Roxburgh Community Board and, when completed, will be available for public viewing and feedback.
Board deputy chairwoman Helen Pinder said it was hoped the present Roxburgh pool would be closed by the time this swimming season ended and ready for demolition.
"However, there is still the design process to be gone through and we also need to talk to the Central Lakes Trust. There is work to do."
It was vital Roxburgh had a pool, Mrs Pinder said.
"Five or six years ago, our present pool was costing us a lot of money in upkeep for the usage it was getting. However, the board felt there was a very real need for a pool. Everybody should be safe in the water and the best time to teach people to swim is when they are young. Having a pool allows that to happen."
The present pool would not have been retained without community support and people working together to make sure it was kept, she said.
"We approached people and groups associated with the pool and they stepped up to the mark. A committee was formed and that committee has maintained the pool ever since at very little cost to ratepayers."
The new project was going ahead only because Roxburgh Area School's board of trustees wanted to be fully involved in it, Mrs Pinder said.
The board had offered the use of its boiler to heat the pool's water at no cost, as it would not going to be used over the summer. The only condition attached to the use of the boiler was that the pool would have to be located next to the school, she said.
"But even with that sort of help, it's still going to be a real struggle to get funding for the pool. We're going to have to be very careful with the budget. People have got to be aware we can't afford a Rolls-Royce pool."
