The council's corporate services committee yesterday recommended the council go ahead with the project, which will cost about half as much as the $3 million it spent to build the complex, which opened on January 1, 2000.
The project, which lists 21 items, will be carried out next year, if the council gives the go-ahead.
It will improve health and safety at the pool for patrons and staff, along with reducing maintenance and operating costs.
For example, replacing chlorine treatment with ultra-violet treatment would make the atmosphere better in the pool, especially for asthmatics, while new acoustics will reduce noise inside.
Some of the work follows an energy audit funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), which identified savings of up to $70,000 a year could be made in reducing electricity consumption.
Another $70,000 in savings is expected to come from other items.
Cr Struan Munro said the aquatic centre had now been open for almost nine years and virtually no capital works had been carried out except for emergency works.
While some councillors questioned whether some items could be left out of the project to reduce the cost, Cr Munro said all should be done now.
Cr Kathy Dennison said some people had asked her why the project was not being included as part of next year's annual plan, but chief executive Michael Ross pointed out it had been in the council's long-term council community plan for the last three years.
In the current year, $500,000 had been set aside in the annual plan for the aquatic centre.
Corporate services group manager Stephen Halliwell said if the council did nothing now, the cost of running the aquatic centre would continue to increase.
Aquatic services manager Kathy Moore said it was not prudent to do nothing.
"While staff and customers have made do for some time, the work will inspire new life and generate an intense sense of pride in knowing the facility is managed and operated in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible," she said.
Cr Gary Kircher said the important thing to note was the work had the potential to lower rate demands, as well as making the aquatic centre a better place to visit and give it a longer life.
The work will be paid for from reserves (including depreciation of $620,000) and a loan not exceeding $680,000.
The big-ticket items are $200,000 for an ultraviolet steriliser, $150,000 to replace the main pool filter, $134,000 to replace and revise acoustic treatment, $117,000 for pool lighting and a skylight screen, $105,000 for a spa pool heating filter-pump unit, $100,000 for the pool's water heat pump and $100,000 for a dry storage facility.
