Mosgiel residents on social media have complained about misbehaving youths being ejected from Te Puna o Whakaehu since it opened on June 19.
However, some say the teenagers’ misbehaviour is down to the council building a pool with nothing for them.
Mosgiel resident Jocelyn Frost said she was grateful for the pool and had used it at least twice a week since it opened.
However, more could be done to accommodate teenagers, she said.
"We desperately need to be looking at how this pool could serve everybody and at this point it doesn’t serve everybody."
The big lane pool only served a few people at the moment and a section of it could be dedicated to accommodate the teenagers, she said.
She suggested there could be designated evenings where the pool was set up for teenagers or the community.
It was important to accommodate teenagers so they would not spend their time otherwise causing havoc in Mosgiel, Mrs Frost said.
"It’s such a huge issue in our country up and down and adults have to come up with more ideas without saying ‘let’s put them all in jail’.
Among those commenting on social media was a teenager who complained they were ejected from the pool for little reason and another who said: "Would you rather us being in the pool making a couple of splashes or out committing crimes?"
Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board chairman Andrew Simms said the board had been approached by members of the community complaining there was nothing for teenagers at the pool.
There were some unrealistic expectations about what could be done to accommodate teenagers, such as building a hydro slide, which would be too expensive, he said.
However, he agreed with Mrs Frost and said some constructive feedback could be given to the council about pool options.
"That’s what the community board is there to do: listen to the feedback of the community and then go to the DCC and make some suggestions and see if we could work on a compromise."
Criticism about the behaviour of some teenagers was justified.
"Some it’s just boisterousness and some of it is downright antisocial behaviour, language and that sort of thing."
Pool staff were right to intervene on behalf of everyone else using the pool, he said.
A council spokesman said the pool was popular with all ages and the feedback had been overwhelmingly positive.
The pool was a part of a wider network of pools spread across Dunedin which offered a wide range of facilities for a range of ages.
"There are hydro slides and additional recreational space more suited to teenagers available at Moana Pool, and Te Puna’s design reflects the priorities identified by the Mosgiel-Taieri community."
